Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ledyard vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Ledyard | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Preston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest 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+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 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 | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,629±$247 15% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | 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 |
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.