What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alabama has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

Ledyard has the most expensive homes ($249k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alabama	Ledyard
People
Population	1,831Highest	1,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.8±4.2Highest 13% below NY	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±8.6Highest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	9.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.8%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 7%	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,833±$11kLowest 5% below NY	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average
	Ledyard and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$145,600±$14kLowest 66% below NY	$249,200±$22kHighest 41% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$141Lowest 52% below NY	$1,276±$317Highest 21% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,444Lowest 48% below NY	$3,864Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.7%±6.9Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest NY: 14%	14.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1959Highest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 7% below NY	20 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	5.2%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.4%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ledyard and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.