Compare towns
Darien vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Darien has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Alexander has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
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 | Darien | Alexander |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,988Highest |
2,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
32.7±5.3Lowest 18% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±5.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
31.6%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±6.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.5Highest 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 | $88,423±$15kHighest about the NY average |
$75,875±$14kLowest 12% below NY |
| Darien and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $211,400±$21kHighest 50% below NY |
$163,100±$17kLowest 62% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,277±$565 21% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,732Lowest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
16.9%±5.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Alexander and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NY: 14% |
2.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 25% below NY |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.7%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Darien and Alexander 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 |
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.