Compare towns
Preston vs Lancaster vs Ledyard vs Harwinton
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 oldest population (median age 46.2).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Harwinton has the most homeowners (93%).
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 | Lancaster | Ledyard | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
8,606 |
15,433Highest |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.1±4.3 19% above U.S. |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harwinton 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±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$129,643±$18k 61% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Harwinton 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,629±$247 15% above U.S. |
$1,504±$200 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$5,503 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Nashoba | Ledyard School District | Regional School District 10 |
| 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.