Compare towns

Preston vs Suffield vs Windsor 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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

MeasurePrestonSuffieldWindsorLedyard
People
Population
4,821Lowest
15,702
29,468Highest
15,433
Median age
46.2±7Highest
12% above CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
43.7±1.9
6% above CT
37.1±1.4Lowest
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%
19.2%±2.1
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%
20%±2
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Preston and Windsor 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
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
43.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
Windsor 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
$104,725±$8kLowest
9% above 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
$305,200±$11kLowest
17% below CT
$326,200±$27k
11% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,433±$1k
4% below CT
$1,424±$141Lowest
4% below CT
$1,681±$62Highest
13% above CT
$1,629±$247
9% above CT
Windsor and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,749Lowest
29% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$5,351
19% 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%
44.9%±10.9Lowest
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%
6.7%Highest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%
CT: 66.5%
82.4%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
1970Lowest
3 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
21 minLowest
19% below CT
22 min
17% below CT
Work from home
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
16.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
9.2%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Suffield and Windsor 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 #117 of 149 in CT #99 of 149 in CT
School district Preston School District Suffield School District Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District Ledyard School District
High school in town None in town Suffield High School Windsor High School Ledyard High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
10.2Lowest
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.