Compare towns
Preston vs Washington 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%).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Washington | Ledyard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
3,676Lowest |
15,433Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
| Preston and Ledyard 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 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 |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Regional School District 12 | Ledyard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Ledyard High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.