Compare towns
Canton 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
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Canton | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Canton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Canton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% 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 | $7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Ledyard School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.