Compare towns
Westerly vs Cumberland 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 the most expensive homes ($467k median).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Westerly has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Cumberland | Westerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,333 |
36,820Highest |
18,411Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.7% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
43.5±1.2Lowest 7% above RI |
50.4±2.3 24% 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%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±2.8 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+ | 45.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
44.8% RI: 37.7% |
43.3%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.2%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$95,207±$8kLowest 8% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI |
$431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI |
$448,800±$15k 11% above RI |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
$1,260±$132 6% below RI |
| Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 21% below RI |
$4,870Highest about the RI average |
$3,784Lowest 23% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4 RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
46.2%±9.8Lowest RI: 48% |
| Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
5.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% RI: 63.6% |
76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
71.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 5% below RI |
26 minHighest 3% above RI |
23 minLowest 10% below RI |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5 RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
10.4%±2.8Lowest RI: 13% |
| Cumberland 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #25 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | — |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Cumberland High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.