What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).

Ledyard has the most expensive homes ($249k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampton	Ledyard
People
Population	1,145Lowest	1,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±14.7Highest 8% above NY	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY
	Hampton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ledyard and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	18.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hampton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 7%	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kLowest 14% below NY	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average
	Ledyard and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kLowest 61% below NY	$249,200±$22kHighest 41% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Lowest 22% below NY	$1,276±$317Highest 21% below NY
	Ledyard and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 54% below NY	$3,864Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hampton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.5%Highest NY: 14%	14.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 19% below NY	20 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hampton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.