What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the most expensive homes ($249k median).

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).

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	Hampton
People
Population	1,811Highest	1,145Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY	43.1±14.7Highest 8% above NY
	Hampton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	15.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ledyard and Hampton 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%	20.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hampton 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%	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average	$73,796±$8kLowest 14% below NY
	Ledyard and Hampton 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	$166,800±$10kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$317Highest 21% below NY	$1,264±$375Lowest 22% below NY
	Ledyard and Hampton 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	$3,007Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	13.2%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hampton 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%	16.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	27 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hampton 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.