Compare towns
Avon vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Avon | Ledyard | Preston | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
15,433 |
4,821Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Preston and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,371 41% above CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Ridgefield 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 | #31 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.5 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.