Compare towns
Darien vs Worcester vs Bennington
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988 |
831Lowest |
3,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46.7±5.8Lowest 20% 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%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$89,050±$10kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Bennington 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$244,400±$24k 27% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
$942±$344Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,591 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.4%±29Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.