Compare towns
Preston vs Killingly vs Ledyard vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Killingly | Ledyard | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,433 |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 22% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| 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 29% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ledyard School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.