What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 31).

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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	Benton
People
Population	1,811Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY
	Ledyard and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$249,200±$22kLowest 41% below NY	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$317Lowest 21% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,864Highest 41% below NY	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	23 minHighest 30% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.