Compare towns
Johnston vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Providence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
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 | Johnston | Ledyard | Preston | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835 |
15,433 |
4,821Lowest |
191,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Providence and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$42 about the U.S. average |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$6,371Highest 104% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #36 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | Ledyard High School | None in town | Classical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.5 |
— | 17.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.