Compare towns
Worcester vs Ferrisburgh vs Calais vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Worcester | Ferrisburgh | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,661Highest |
1,713 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | 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 | — |
| 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.