What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tiverton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Westerly has the most expensive 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	Tiverton	Westerly
People
Population	16,189Lowest	23,333Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	51.1±2.4Lowest 26% above RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
	Westerly and Tiverton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Tiverton and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±2.6Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and Tiverton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.4Lowest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3%
	Westerly and Tiverton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,036±$10kHighest 21% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
	Tiverton and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$411,900±$24kLowest about the RI average	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,247±$152Lowest 7% below RI	$1,257±$131Highest 6% below RI
	Westerly and Tiverton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,767Highest about the RI average	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±8Lowest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48%
	Westerly and Tiverton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Lowest 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	28 minHighest 9% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	13.5%±3.6Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Tiverton 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	#15 of 38 in RI	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	Tiverton	Westerly
High school in town	Tiverton High School	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	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.