Compare towns
Ledyard 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
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 | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Highest 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% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Ledyard 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Ledyard 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Ledyard 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Ledyard and Preston 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.