Compare towns

Ledyard vs Putnam vs Sterling

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 (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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.

MeasureLedyardPutnamSterling
People
Population
15,433Highest
9,292
3,629Lowest
Median age
37.1±1.4Lowest
10% below CT
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
Putnam and Sterling 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9
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%
18.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam 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%
20%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Ledyard and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,975±$10kHighest
13% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$27kHighest
11% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Ledyard and Sterling 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
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,371Highest
4% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±27Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Ledyard and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
9.2%±2.8
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
Sterling 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 #119 of 149 in CT
School district Ledyard School District Putnam School District Sterling School District
High school in town Ledyard High School Putnam High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
9.5Lowest
—
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.