Compare towns
Ledyard vs Stepney vs Sandy Hook 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).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Preston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
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 | Stepney | Sandy Hook | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,433Highest |
3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
4,821 |
| Median age | 37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Stepney and Preston 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Sandy Hook 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook 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 |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| 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 | 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.