What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the most homeowners (82.7%).

West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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.

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

Measure	Ledyard	West Haven
People
Population	15,433Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	37.1±1.4Highest 10% below CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
	Ledyard and West Haven 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%	20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17.4%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Ledyard and West Haven 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%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
	Ledyard and West Haven 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	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT
	Ledyard and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,371Lowest 4% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±27Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Ledyard and West Haven 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%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below CT	23 minHighest 14% below CT
Work from home	9.2%±2.8 CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4 CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#99 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Ledyard School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Ledyard High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	15.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.