Compare towns
Preston vs Springfield vs Ledyard vs Harwinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Springfield | Ledyard | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
154,749Highest |
15,433 |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.1±1.4 5% below U.S. |
46.1±4.3 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Harwinton 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 44% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$129,643±$18kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$326,200±$27k about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,504±$200 6% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,371Highest 104% above U.S. |
$5,503 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Springfield | Ledyard School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.