Compare towns
Ledyard vs Killingly vs Orange 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Ledyard | Killingly | Orange | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,433 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Orange 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Orange 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,371 4% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.