Compare towns
Danielson vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Willington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Danielson | Ledyard | Preston | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
15,433Highest |
4,821 |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| Preston and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below 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 | $224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194Lowest 17% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% 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 | $4,009Lowest 40% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Willington 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 | — | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | — | Ledyard High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.