Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
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 | Bristol | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,433 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below 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 | $277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Bristol 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Ledyard School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.