Compare towns
Preston vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Ledyard
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 population (median age 46.2).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Ledyard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,120 |
12,579 |
15,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% 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 |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Ledyard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Ledyard High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.