Compare towns
Waterbury vs Ferrisburgh vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Waterbury | Ferrisburgh | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,661 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Waterbury and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.