Compare towns
Preston vs Exeter vs Ledyard vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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.
| Measure | Preston | Exeter | Ledyard | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,195 |
15,433Highest |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,371Highest 104% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #99 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Ledyard School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.