Compare towns

Devens vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Bernardston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureDevensLedyardPrestonBernardston
People
Population
1,723Lowest
15,433Highest
4,821
2,164
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±4.3
25% above U.S.
37.1±1.4Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.2±7
19% above U.S.
49±3.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Bernardston and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Devens and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
$107,975±$10k
34% above U.S.
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
$81,940±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Devens and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
$326,200±$27kLowest
about the U.S. average
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
$332,000±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$539
6% above U.S.
$1,629±$247Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,433±$1k
about the U.S. average
$1,283±$553Lowest
9% below U.S.
Ledyard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,556
78% above U.S.
$6,371Highest
104% above U.S.
$4,749
52% above U.S.
$4,516Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Devens and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
28.5%±11.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Devens and Bernardston 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 —
School district — Ledyard School District Preston School District Pioneer Valley
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

U.S. 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.