Population 21,936 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Darien
Household size in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.06 | 2.71 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.21 | 2.80 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.16 | 2.76 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.10 | 2.75 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | +0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Darien are large by national standards, averaging 3.10 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has crept up from 3.06 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other Connecticut city with 5,000+ people has larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 39.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.0 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 41.5 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 41.6 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Darien is 37.9 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 39.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people, only ten are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.1% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 10.8% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 10.1% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.5% of households in Darien, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Darien
Renters in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 29.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 31.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 32.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 34.0% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +4.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.6% of households in Darien rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 31.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the north. The renter share is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 8.3% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 9.4% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 7.0% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Darien than nationally: 7.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Bridgeport area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1962 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1964 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Darien is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,868 | $1,394 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,978 | $1,488 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,402 | $1,784 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,988 | $2,167 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,120 | +$773 | +$575 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Darien costs $2,988 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,120 a month from 2006–10, a 60% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 28.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Darien
Bachelor's degrees in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.5% | 43.2% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 45.5% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 82.9% | 47.9% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 85.6% | 50.4% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Darien: 85.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.2 points, in line with the national trend. Darien has the highest share of college graduates of any Connecticut city with 5,000+ people.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.4% | 87.7% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.2% | 88.8% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.5% | 89.8% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.3% | 89.7% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Darien: 98.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only 12 of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Darien
| Period | Darien | Bridgeport area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 6.5% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Darien is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Darien compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darien | 3.10 | 37.9 | 7.5% | 17.6% | 7.4% | 1959 | $2,988 | 85.6% | 98.3% | 5.1% |
| Stamford | 2.60 | 39.3 | 10.3% | 51.2% | 6.8% | 1974 | $2,458 | 50.9% | 88.7% | 4.9% |
| Norwalk | 2.62 | 41.1 | 10.9% | 44.5% | 6.9% | 1967 | $2,204 | 44.2% | 89.4% | 5.1% |
| New Canaan | 2.95 | 41.9 | 3.6% | 16.3% | 8.1% | 1969 | $3,297 | 82.8% | 98.1% | 4.2% |
| Old Greenwich | 2.98 | 40.7 | 7.3% | 13.9% | 6.8% | 1967 | $3,429 | 83.9% | 98.6% | 4.5% |
| Riverside | 3.09 | 41.0 | 6.5% | 19.4% | 4.2% | 1963 | $2,794 | 78.6% | 97.8% | 5.3% |
| Cos Cob | 2.78 | 39.9 | 10.2% | 30.4% | 5.4% | 1963 | $3,093 | 74.8% | 96.0% | 5.3% |
| Westport | 2.82 | 45.9 | 3.4% | 11.1% | 7.2% | 1972 | $2,857 | 80.6% | 98.0% | 4.0% |
| Greenwich | 2.72 | 45.2 | 9.4% | 34.8% | 13.3% | 1962 | $2,809 | 68.8% | 94.9% | 6.3% |
| Scotts Corners | 2.75 | 52.5 | 0.6% | 6.4% | 12.0% | 1971 | $3,501 | 79.6% | 98.6% | 2.4% |
| Wilton | 3.08 | 43.4 | 3.7% | 11.6% | 5.4% | 1972 | $2,849 | 75.5% | 98.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rosedale, MD · Milwaukie, OR · Mineola, NY · Northdale, FL · Oregon, OH · Orocovis, PR · Owens Cross Roads, AL · Oxon Hill, MD · Palm River-Clair Mel, FL · Palmyra, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Darien. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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