Compare towns
Darien vs Java vs Bennington 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).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
Alexander has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Bennington | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,988 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220Highest |
2,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
32.7±5.3Lowest 18% below NY |
| Darien and Bennington 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
31.6%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington 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% NY: 40.2% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest 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±$15k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$75,875±$14kLowest 12% below NY |
| Java and Bennington 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$163,100±$17kLowest 62% below NY |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$1,277±$565Highest 21% below NY |
| Alexander and Bennington 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591 30% below NY |
$3,732Lowest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
16.9%±5.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Bennington and Alexander 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% NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
2.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.7%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java 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 | 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.