Compare towns
Preston vs Stepney vs Ledyard vs Norwich
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 people working from home (10.3%).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Stepney | Ledyard | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
3,979Lowest |
15,433 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Stepney and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Stepney 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Stepney 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% |
54.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Norwich 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 |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Stepney 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 | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Ledyard School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ledyard High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.