Compare towns
Harwinton 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
Harwinton has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Harwinton | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Harwinton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$200 about the CT average |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
| Ledyard and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,503 17% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±27.9Lowest 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 | 4.8% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | 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.