What stands out worked out from the figures below

Darien has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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.

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

Measure	Darien	Java
People
Population	2,988Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Darien and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±5.9Lowest 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+	21.8%±6.2Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Darien and Java 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%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest 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	$88,423±$15kLowest 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	$211,400±$21kLowest 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	—	$863±$419 47% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,910Highest 25% below NY	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Java 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%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 25% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Java 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.