Compare towns
Darien vs Sheldon vs Barrington
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).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Barrington has the most people working from home (11.7%).
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 | Sheldon | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988Highest |
2,216 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
44.8±3.4Lowest 13% above NY |
| Darien and Sheldon 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% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Barrington and Darien 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% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
0.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$90,938±$16kHighest 6% above NY |
| Barrington 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 |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$255,800±$32kHighest 40% below NY |
| Barrington and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,574±$667Highest about the NY average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,463 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.3%±84.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 25% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Barrington 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 | 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.