Compare towns
Ledyard vs Preston vs Willimantic
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 oldest population (median age 46.2).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,433 |
4,821Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Ledyard 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 | — |
| School district | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | — |
| High school in town | Ledyard High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.