Compare towns
Nelson vs Killingly vs Griswold vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Francestown has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Nelson | Killingly | Griswold | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,530 |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Griswold School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.