Compare towns
Preston vs Plainville 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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Plainville | Ledyard | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
17,551Highest |
15,433 |
11,530 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Preston and Ledyard 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ledyard School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Ledyard High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.