Compare towns
Alexander vs Darien vs Java
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexander has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Darien has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
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 | Alexander | Darien | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,572 |
2,988Highest |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32.7±5.3Lowest 18% below NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
| Darien and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 31.6%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±5.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±6.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Darien and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.1% NY: 40.2% |
17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Alexander and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,875±$14kLowest 12% below NY |
$88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Java and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,100±$17kLowest 62% below NY |
$211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Java and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,277±$565Highest 21% below NY |
— | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
| Alexander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,732Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.9%±5.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Alexander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 34% below NY |
24 min 25% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.7%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Darien 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 | #295 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | ALEXANDER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | ALEXANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL-HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.