Compare towns
Ledyard vs Preston vs Sterling vs East Hampton
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).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
East Hampton has the most people working from home (12.7%).
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 | Preston | Sterling | East Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
4,821 |
3,629Lowest |
12,925 |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
| Preston and East Hampton 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Sterling 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and East Hampton 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| East Hampton 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$124,577±$11kHighest 30% above CT |
| East Hampton 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$349,000±$14k 5% below CT |
| Preston and East Hampton 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
— | $1,393±$150Lowest 6% 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 | $6,371 4% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,681Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.7%±16.4 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
30 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
12.7%±2.4Highest CT: 16% |
| East Hampton and Sterling 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #75 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Sterling School District | East Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | None in town | None in town | East Hampton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.