Compare towns

Killingly vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyLedyardPrestonThompson
People
Population
17,867Highest
15,433
4,821Lowest
9,337
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
37.1±1.4Lowest
10% below CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
27.5%±3.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
40.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$107,975±$10k
13% above CT
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$326,200±$27k
11% below CT
$361,900±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,629±$247Highest
9% above CT
$1,433±$1k
4% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$6,371Highest
4% below CT
$4,749
29% below CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
54%±27Highest
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.7%
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1963Lowest
4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9.2%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
Thompson and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #99 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ledyard School District Preston School District Thompson School District
High school in town Killingly High School Ledyard High School None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.5Highest
—
7.9Lowest
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.