Compare towns
Harwinton vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Durham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% 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%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$18k 35% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$200 about the CT average |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% 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 |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above 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% |
44.9%±28.4 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 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 |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Harwinton 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 | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.