Compare towns
Darien vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Darien has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Darien and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Darien and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 10% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Windham 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±$21kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.