What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the most people working from home (7.1%).

Darien has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashford	Darien
People
Population	1,834Lowest	2,988Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.3±6.9Highest 31% above NY	50.5±8.8Lowest 27% above NY
	Ashford and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±5.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Darien and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ashford and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Darien and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,558±$11kLowest 10% below NY	$88,423±$15kHighest about the NY average
	Darien and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$194,600±$43kLowest 54% below NY	$211,400±$21kHighest 50% below NY
	Darien and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$654±$132 60% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,079Lowest 38% below NY	$4,910Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.4%±79.6Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Ashford and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%	8.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 7% below NY	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	7.1%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9%	5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ashford and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.