Compare towns
Ledyard vs Harwinton vs Plainfield vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Harwinton has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k 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.
| Measure | Ledyard | Harwinton | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
5,575 |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% 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 | 27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest 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+ | 40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Harwinton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% 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 | $6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$5,503 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 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 | 5.7% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Regional School District 10 | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.