Compare towns
Westerly vs North Kingstown
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 affordable homes ($467k median).
North Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | North Kingstown |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 23,333Lowest |
27,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+4.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
46.2±2.4Lowest 14% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8% |
17.8%±1.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| North Kingstown and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
23%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and North Kingstown 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% |
55.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.3%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3% |
| North Kingstown 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±$5kLowest 13% above RI |
$126,293±$14kHighest 44% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15kLowest 15% above RI |
$543,700±$26kHighest 35% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,268±$187Highest 6% below RI |
| North Kingstown and Westerly 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 |
$6,396Highest 31% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48% |
42.5%±8.6Lowest RI: 48% |
| Westerly and North Kingstown 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% |
6.1%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% RI: 63.6% |
74.7% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 5% below RI |
26 minHighest about the RI average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13% |
16.7%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 38 in RI | #4 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | North Kingstown |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | North Kingstown Sr. High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.