Compare towns
Webster vs Ledyard vs Gardner vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Gardner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k median).
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 | Webster | Ledyard | Gardner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
15,433Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$107,975±$10kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Ledyard and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27k about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Ledyard and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,371Highest 104% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Gardner 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #99 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ledyard School District | Gardner | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ledyard High School | Gardner High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.