Compare towns
Preston 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).
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 | Ledyard | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,433Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 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% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston 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 |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$103,198±$6kLowest 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 |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% 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 |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 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% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs 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 |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Preston 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Ledyard School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school 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 |
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.