Compare towns
Ledyard vs Orange vs Plainfield
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).
Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Orange | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
14,315Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,371 4% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.