What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 31).

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	Benton	Ledyard
People
Population	2,948Highest	1,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	18.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average
	Ledyard and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY	$249,200±$22kLowest 41% below NY
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY	$1,276±$317Lowest 21% below NY
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY	$3,864Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	14.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 30% below NY	20 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Ledyard 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.