Compare towns
Ayer vs Ledyard vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Ayer | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
15,433Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$6,371Highest 104% above U.S. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Preston 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ledyard School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | — | Ledyard 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.