Compare towns
Ledyard vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Putnam | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
7,120 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest 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 | #128 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.