Compare towns
Preston vs Upton vs Ledyard vs Canterbury
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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ledyard has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Upton | Ledyard | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
8,189 |
15,433Highest |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Preston 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below 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 | $4,749 52% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Canterbury 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ledyard School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ledyard High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.