Compare towns
Preston vs Sandy Hook 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Sandy Hook | Ledyard | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,863 |
15,433Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.1±3 5% 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% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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±$27k 22% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$103,198±$6kLowest 8% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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±$13k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Ledyard 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 |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 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% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%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 |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Canterbury 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 | 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.