Compare towns
Sterling vs Ledyard vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sterling | Ledyard | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
15,433Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ledyard and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Ledyard 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Ledyard School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.