Compare towns
Westford vs Ferrisburgh vs Calais vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Ferrisburgh has the most renters (14.7% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Westford | Ferrisburgh | Calais | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,290 |
2,661Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest 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+ | 52.3% VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% 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 | $424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% 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 | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% 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 | $6,282 25% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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 | 2.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.