Compare towns
Brighton vs Ledyard vs Aurora
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Aurora has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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.
| Measure | Brighton | Ledyard | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,351 |
1,811Highest |
651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -18.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-12.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-16.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 22.2±1.3 44% below NY |
31±6.9Highest 22% below NY |
21.1±0.6Lowest 47% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 6.1%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
5.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.8%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Ledyard and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
51.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 48.1%±6 NY: 7% |
24.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 7% |
64.8%±8.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,750±$19kLowest 24% below NY |
$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average |
$71,250±$25k 17% below NY |
| Ledyard and Aurora 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±$22k 41% below NY |
$262,500±$33kHighest 38% below NY |
| Aurora and Ledyard 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±$317 21% below NY |
$1,350±$265Highest 17% below NY |
| Aurora and Ledyard 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 |
$3,864 41% below NY |
$4,885Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16%±34Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
12.5%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Brighton and Aurora 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% |
14% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
76.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 45% below NY |
20 minHighest 37% below NY |
13 minLowest 60% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Brighton and Aurora 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 | — | #78 of 484 in NY |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.