Compare towns
Darien vs Java vs Ashford
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($195k 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.
| Measure | Darien | Java | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988Highest |
2,049 |
1,834Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% 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%±5.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±5Lowest 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%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest 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±$15k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$77,558±$11kLowest 10% below 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±$21k 50% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$194,600±$43kLowest 54% 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±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$654±$132Lowest 60% below NY |
| Java and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,079 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
19.4%±79.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Ashford and Java 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% |
6.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±5.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ashford 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 | 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.