Compare towns
Preston vs Suffield vs Plainfield 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 most homeowners (91.7%).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Suffield | Plainfield | Ledyard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,702Highest |
15,141 |
15,433 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
| Preston and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Suffield 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Suffield School District | Plainfield School District | Ledyard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Plainfield High School | Ledyard High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
10.3Lowest |
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.