What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Ashford
People
Population	2,988Highest	1,834Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.5±8.8Lowest 27% above NY	52.3±6.9Highest 31% 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	19%±5.9Highest NY: 20.5%	18%±5Lowest 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+	21.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±3.5Highest 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+	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%	18.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest 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	$88,423±$15kHighest about the NY average	$77,558±$11kLowest 10% below NY
	Darien and Ashford 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	$194,600±$43kLowest 54% 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	$4,910Highest 25% below NY	$4,079Lowest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	19.4%±79.6Highest 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	8.7%Highest NY: 14%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	92%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 25% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.1%±5.1Highest 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.