Compare towns
Preston vs Plainfield vs Ledyard vs Harwinton
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Harwinton has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Ledyard | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,141 |
15,433Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Plainfield 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 22% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton and Preston 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Ledyard and Harwinton 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$5,503 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Plainfield School District | Ledyard School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.