Compare towns
Westerly vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westerly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Westerly | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 18,411Lowest |
22,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.4±2.3Highest 24% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $95,207±$8kLowest 8% above RI |
$97,764±$8kHighest 11% above RI |
| Bristol and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,800±$15kLowest 11% above RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
| Bristol and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,260±$132Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,784Lowest 23% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±9.8Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 10% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.8Lowest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Highest RI: 13% |
| Bristol 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 | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
| 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.