What stands out worked out from the figures below

Darien has the most homeowners (82.4%).

Noroton has the most renters (28.5% 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.

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

Measure	Darien	Noroton
People
Population	21,936Highest	5,539Lowest
Median age	40±1.5Highest about the CT average	37.8±2.6Lowest 8% below CT
	Darien and Noroton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%	28.5%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Darien and Noroton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5%	12.9%±2.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Darien and Noroton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	82.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	7.4%±4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Noroton and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001 161% above CT	$250,001 161% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT	$1,620,000±$222kLowest 342% above CT
	Darien and Noroton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,501 135% above CT	$3,501 135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±11.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	62.2%±22.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Noroton and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest CT: 10%	5.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	71.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1962Highest 5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minLowest 46% above CT	43 minHighest 62% above CT
Work from home	35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16%	31.9%±8.2Lowest CT: 16%
	Darien and Noroton 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	#2 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Darien School District	—
High school in town	Darien High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.