Compare towns
Ashford 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
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ashford | Darien | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,834Lowest |
2,988Highest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.3±6.9Highest 31% above NY |
50.5±8.8 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% 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%±5.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Darien 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%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Darien and Java 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±$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 | $194,600±$43kLowest 54% 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 | $654±$132Lowest 60% below NY |
— | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
| Java and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,079 38% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.4%±79.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Ashford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NY: 14% |
8.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.1%±5.1 NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ashford 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 | 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.