What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Westerly has the most affordable homes ($467k median).

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	North Kingstown	Westerly
People
Population	27,859Highest	23,333Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	46.2±2.4Lowest 14% above RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
Kids under 18	17.8%±1.7Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	North Kingstown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.6%Highest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3%
	North Kingstown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,293±$14kHighest 44% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$543,700±$26kHighest 35% above RI	$466,600±$15kLowest 15% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$187Highest 6% below RI	$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI
	North Kingstown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,396Highest 31% above RI	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.5%±8.6Lowest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48%
	Westerly and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Highest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.7% RI: 63.6%	74.7% RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 11 yrs newer than RI	1973 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the RI average	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	16.7%±2.4Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#4 of 38 in RI	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	North Kingstown	Westerly
High school in town	North Kingstown Sr. High	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.