Compare towns

Worcester vs Griswold vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).

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.

MeasureWorcesterGriswoldMiddlesex
People
Population
831Lowest
11,530Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Griswold and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
Middlesex and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Worcester 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 — #118 of 149 in CT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Griswold School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Griswold High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.