Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Ledyard vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Beacon Falls | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Ledyard School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.