Compare towns
Harvard vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
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 | Harvard | Ledyard | Preston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Preston and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247 15% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.