Compare towns
Westerly vs Bristol vs Westerly
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).
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.
| Measure | Westerly | Bristol | Westerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,411Lowest |
22,220 |
23,333Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.5% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.4±2.3 24% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Westerly 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% |
45.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,207±$8kLowest 8% above RI |
$97,764±$8k 11% above RI |
$98,875±$5kHighest 13% above RI |
| Westerly and Bristol 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 |
$466,600±$15k 15% 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±$132 6% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,784Lowest 23% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
$3,847 21% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±9.8 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48% |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
74.7%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 10% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
24 min 5% below RI |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.8Lowest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7 RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5Highest RI: 13% |
| Westerly and Bristol 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 | #25 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Bristol Warren | Westerly |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Hope High School | Westerly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.