What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Westerly has the most homeowners (74.7%).

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	Middletown	Westerly
People
Population	16,832Lowest	23,333Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.8±2Lowest 8% above RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
Kids under 18	19%±2.7Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Middletown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.6Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Middletown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,948±$6kHighest 16% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
	Middletown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$563,300±$46kHighest 39% above RI	$466,600±$15kLowest 15% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,990±$170Highest 48% above RI	$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,153Highest 26% above RI	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±6.3Highest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Middletown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs newer than RI	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 22% below RI	24 minHighest 5% below RI
Work from home	10.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Highest RI: 13%
	Westerly and Middletown 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	#23 of 38 in RI	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	Middletown	Westerly
High school in town	Middletown High School	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.6Lowest
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.