Compare towns
Darien vs Java vs Bennington vs Aurelius
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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
Aurelius has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Aurelius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,988 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220Highest |
2,593 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
49.1±4 23% above NY |
| Darien and Aurelius 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% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Bennington 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% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurelius and Bennington 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% |
21.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Darien and Aurelius 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 |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$94,079±$16k 9% above NY |
| Java and Aurelius 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 |
$167,000±$14kLowest 61% 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±$419 47% below NY |
$942±$344Highest 42% below NY |
$813±$200Lowest 50% below NY |
| Bennington and Java 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 |
$3,516Lowest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
44%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Aurelius and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
9.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.3% 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 |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
19 minLowest 43% 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% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java 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 | 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.