Compare towns
Ferrisburgh vs Castleton vs Calais vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ferrisburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Castleton | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,661 |
4,453Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,120 21% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.