What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 31).

Delaware has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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	Delaware
People
Population	1,811Lowest	2,261Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY	49.3±6.3Highest 24% above NY
Kids under 18	16%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ledyard and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.8%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Delaware 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	8.8%±23.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Ledyard and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,731±$12kLowest about the NY average	$96,146±$28kHighest 12% above NY
	Delaware and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$249,200±$22kHighest 41% below NY	$227,300±$17kLowest 46% below NY
	Ledyard and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$317 21% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,864Lowest 41% below NY	$4,989Highest 24% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	25.4%±29.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Delaware and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Highest NY: 14%	14.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	27.3%±14.3Highest NY: 14.9%
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.