Compare towns
North Stonington vs Stepney vs Westerly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Stonington has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
Stepney has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Westerly has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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 | North Stonington | Stepney | Westerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,160 |
3,979Lowest |
18,411Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±3.8Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.1±5.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
50.4±2.3 30% above U.S. |
| North Stonington and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stepney and North Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westerly and North Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stepney and North Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,938±$10k 54% above U.S. |
$153,966±$16kHighest 91% above U.S. |
$95,207±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $397,100±$39kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$475,800±$53kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$448,800±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Stepney and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,298±$1k 8% below U.S. |
$2,750±$1kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$1,260±$132Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Stepney and North Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,224 100% above U.S. |
$9,309Highest 198% above U.S. |
$3,784Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±52.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.2%±48.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stepney and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westerly and Stepney 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 | #44 of 149 in CT | — | #25 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Stonington School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Wheeler High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.