Darien 70 Excellent
Darien Livability #84 ranked city in Connecticut#6,677 ranked city in the USARanks better than 77% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Darien

PROS
  • Crime

    The crime rate is far lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. As such, it should be considered a very safe place to live when compared to other areas.

  • Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Schools

    The schools category boasts a high score thanks to factors like excellent test scores, impressive graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.

  • Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

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What's it like Living in Darien?

Darien, Connecticut is a mid-sized city with a population of 21,519 people. The majority of Darien residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. If you are looking for a family friendly city, Darien might be a good fit as 70% of the population over 15 years old are married, and 61% have kids who are 18 years old or younger. An important consideration when living in Darien is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 35 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Darien could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Connecticut if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Darien, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, health & safety, education, employment and more.

Darien, CT receives 69/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #78 in Connecticut and #6,945 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we see that Darien ranks very well for crime (A+) and education (A+). On a more negative note, Darien does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (F), cost of living (F) and housing (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Darien has a violent crime rate of 28 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Darien have an average test score of 85%, which is well above the US average.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Darien is actually affordable. The median home price for Darien homes is $1,248,200, which is 363.5% higher than the Connecticut average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Darien, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6, which is 57.9% higher than the Connecticut average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Darien

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Darien?

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Compare Darien, CT Livability

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      Darien transportation information

      Statistic Darien Connecticut National
      Average one way commute35min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work57.7%78.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool4.9%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit26.7%4.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.3%2.9%2.8%
      Working from home8.7%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Darien, CT data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).