What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has the most kids (23% under 18).

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bradford	Westerly
People
Population	1,511Lowest	23,333Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	35±15Lowest 14% below RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
	Westerly and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±13.3Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Bradford and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±11Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.5 RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5 RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,250±$26kHighest 37% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
	Bradford and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,100±$90kLowest 3% above RI	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI
	Westerly and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,257±$131 6% below RI
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 46% below RI	$3,847Highest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.4%±65.9Highest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Bradford and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 16% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	12%±11.4Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Bradford and Westerly 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	—	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	—	Westerly
High school in town	—	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.