Compare towns
Westerly vs Lincoln 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 the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% 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 | Westerly | Lincoln | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,333Highest |
22,864 |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% RI: +4.3% |
+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
43.7±2.2 8% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.1 RI: 18.8% |
21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
24%±2.7 RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
45.9% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.8%±1.8 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI |
$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI |
| Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15k 15% above RI |
$450,600±$17kLowest 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 | $1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,468±$152 9% above RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$4,751 3% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48% |
40.4%±9.8 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
| Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.4%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.5% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Highest RI: 63.6% |
72.1% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1970 8 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
24 min 5% below RI |
25 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5 RI: 13% |
13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
| Lincoln 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 | #21 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Lincoln Senior High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.