Compare towns
Darien vs Sheldon vs Sardinia
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).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Sardinia has the most people working from home (10.2%).
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 | Sardinia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988Highest |
2,216Lowest |
2,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% 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% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia 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% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Sardinia 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±$15kHighest about the NY average |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
| Darien and Sardinia 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 |
$218,900±$19kHighest 48% below NY |
| Sardinia 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 |
$855±$83Highest 47% below NY |
| Sardinia and Sheldon 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 25% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
30 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Sardinia 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.