What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the most affordable homes ($326k median).

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ledyard	Hanson
People
Population	15,433Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S.	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ledyard and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ledyard and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,629±$247Lowest 15% above U.S.	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,371Lowest 104% above U.S.	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ledyard and Hanson 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	#99 of 149 in CT	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Ledyard School District	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Ledyard High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.