What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Ledyard has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Hanson	Ledyard
People
Population	10,660Lowest	15,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.	37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ledyard and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ledyard and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,629±$247Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.	$6,371Lowest 104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ledyard and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA	#99 of 149 in CT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Ledyard School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Ledyard High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.