Compare towns
Hampton 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
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Hampton | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
15,433Highest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest 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 | $109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 19% 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 | $1,285±$288Lowest 14% 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 | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Preston 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 | 90% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 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 | 17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 |
| School district | Hampton School District | Ledyard School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.