Compare towns

Thompson vs Killingly vs Preston vs Griswold

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

MeasureThompsonKillinglyPrestonGriswold
People
Population
9,337
17,867Highest
4,821Lowest
11,530
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
28.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$78,719±$11kLowest
18% below CT
Preston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$361,900±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$275,900±$42kLowest
25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
Preston and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,749Highest
29% below CT
$4,628
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
4 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
31 min
17% above CT
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
Thompson and Killingly 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 #130 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Killingly High School None in town Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.1
—
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.