Compare towns
Preston vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Ledyard
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 homeowners (91.7%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Ledyard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
15,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ledyard and Preston 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Ledyard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Ledyard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Ledyard High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.