Compare towns
Westerly vs Sturbridge vs Westerly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westerly has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Westerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,333Highest |
9,960Lowest |
18,411 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
50.4±2.3 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$95,207±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$448,800±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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±$131 11% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,260±$132Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,784Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westerly and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #25 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.