Compare towns
Preston vs Monroe vs Ledyard vs Griswold
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Monroe has the most people working from home (15.4%).
Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Monroe | Ledyard | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
18,949Highest |
15,433 |
11,530 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold 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% |
25.2%±3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Griswold 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,177±$65 21% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold 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 CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Monroe School District | Ledyard School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | Ledyard High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.