Compare towns
Worcester vs Ferrisburgh vs Calais vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($107k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,661 |
1,713 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Ferrisburgh 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest 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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above 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±$35k 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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 | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.