What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ledyard	Sturbridge
People
Population	15,433Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ledyard and Sturbridge 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 34% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Ledyard and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,371Lowest 104% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ledyard and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#99 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Ledyard School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Ledyard High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.