What stands out worked out from the figures below

Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k median).

Westport has the most affordable homes ($1405k 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.

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

Measure	Darien	Westport
People
Population	21,936Lowest	27,528Highest
Median age	40±1.5Lowest about the CT average	45.4±1.5Highest 10% above CT
Kids under 18	30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%	27.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Darien and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	79.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	3.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Darien and Westport 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	$1,405,200±$124kLowest 283% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,501Highest 135% above CT	$2,509±$709Lowest 69% 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%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6%	51.8%±11Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Darien and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest CT: 10%	3.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	88.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minLowest 46% above CT	41 minHighest 54% above CT
Work from home	35.5%±6.6Lowest CT: 16%	41.5%±3.6Highest CT: 16%
	Westport 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	#2 of 149 in CT	#3 of 149 in CT
School district	Darien School District	Westport School District
High school in town	Darien High School	Staples High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	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.