What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most people working from home (12.1%).

Ledyard has the most kids (16% under 18).

Brighton is a college town. 48.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Brighton	Ledyard
People
Population	1,351Lowest	1,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-18.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	22.2±1.3Lowest 44% below NY	31±6.9Highest 22% below NY
Kids under 18	6.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.8%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ledyard and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5% NY: 40.2%	42.5% NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	48.1%±6Highest NY: 7%	24.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,750±$19kLowest 24% below NY	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average
	Ledyard and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,500±$60kLowest 42% below NY	$249,200±$22kHighest 41% below NY
	Ledyard and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$199Lowest 32% below NY	$1,276±$317Highest 21% below NY
	Ledyard and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,544Lowest 61% below NY	$3,864Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16%±34Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brighton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NY: 14%	14.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1959Highest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	20 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	12.1%±7.5Highest NY: 14.9%	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Brighton and Ledyard 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	#22 of 484 in NY	—
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.