Compare towns

Dummerston vs Worcester vs Ferrisburgh vs Calais

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonWorcesterFerrisburghCalais
People
Population
2,090
831Lowest
2,661Highest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
45.5±4.9
6% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
Worcester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
3%±2.8
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$106,989±$22kHighest
32% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$422,700±$35kHighest
34% above VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$6,120
21% above VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
29 min
22% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #7 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.