Town · Rhode Island
Westerly, Rhode Island
Westerly, town, in Washington County, Rhode Island. Westerly had 23,139 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 23,359 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,333 (±47). GEOID 4400977000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,139
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,359 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,333 ±47
Median household income
$98,875
±$5,450 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $87,796
Median home value
$466,600
±$15,052 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $404,200
Median gross rent
$1,257
±$131 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $1,342
Where is Westerly and what county is it in?
Westerly is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island. It covers 29.5 square miles of land, 793 residents per square mile in 2020.
5 places lie inside Westerly: Westerly (CDP, 18,423 in 2020), Bradford (CDP, 1,457 in 2020), Weekapaug (CDP, 467 in 2020), Misquamicut (CDP, 434 in 2020) and Watch Hill (CDP, 212 in 2020).
Westerly is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Westerly, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,139 people lived in Westerly on July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, while Rhode Island grew 1.6%. The 2020 Census counted 23,359 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,333 (±47).
| Measure | Westerly | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,333±47 | 130,344 | +789 |
| Households | 10,498±378 | 52,549 | +671 |
| Average household size | 2.19±0.08 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 13,090±384 | 66,385 | no clear change |
Westerly's population since 2000
From 22,966 in 2000 to 23,139 in 2025: up 0.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Westerly as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Westerly?
The median resident of Westerly is 52.2 years old; 14.4% are under 18 and 26.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.5%. 5.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Westerly | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2±2.4 | 45.5 | +5.6 |
| Under 18 years | 14.4%±1.3 pts | 15.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.4%±2.0 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Male | 51.1%±2.0 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6%±1.4 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.9%±2.1 pts | 88.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.7%±0.9 pts | 2.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5%±1.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.1%±1.4 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.9%±1.9 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±1.5 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 11.7%±2.3 pts | 10.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.7%±1.3 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.2%±1.4 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.8%±3.5 pts | 52.4% | +11.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.7%±2.4 pts | 23.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.7%±2.0 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5%±1.1 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Westerly earn?
Half of Westerly's 10,498 households earn less than $98,875 a year (±$5,450), against $106,638 in Washington County and $87,796 in Rhode Island. In 2015-2019 the median was $87,113 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $11,762 after inflation. 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Westerly | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $98,875±$5,450 | $106,638 | +$11,762 |
| Mean household income | $131,631±$7,605 | $136,741 | – |
| Per capita income | $59,151±$3,070 | $56,069 | +$8,694 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.2%±1.2 pts | 8.2% | −4.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.6%±2.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.2%±2.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.3%±2.0 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.5%±2.1 pts | 94.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Westerly?
Owners occupy 74.7% of Westerly's occupied homes and renters 25.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $466,600 by its owner (±$15,052). The median renter pays $1,257 a month including utilities, and 42.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Westerly | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $466,600±$15,052 | $510,800 | +$94,192 |
| Median gross rent | $1,257±$131 | $1,327 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.4%±11.6 pts | 42.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,178±$116 | $2,364 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.7%±3.4 pts | 77.5% | +11.1 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.3%±3.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Housing units | 13,090±384 | 66,385 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3%±3.6 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.3%±3.4 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.2%±1.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.4%±3.2 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.8%±2.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Westerly building?
Builders took permits for 43 new housing units in Westerly in 2025 (43 in single-family houses), 1.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.6 across Rhode Island.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Westerly work and get to work?
79.3% of Westerly's workers drive alone and 11.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Westerly | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8%±3.0 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1%±1.6 pts | 4.4% | −3.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.3%±3.8 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.5%±2.4 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.7%±1.2 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.5%±2.6 pts | 15.3% | +8.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.2 min±2.0 | 26.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Westerly?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Westerly, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $64,396 (Tract 508.01) to $143,088 (Tract 510).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 509.01Washington County | 7,020 | $101,621 |
| Tract 508.01Washington County | 5,655 | $64,396 |
| Tract 509.02Washington County | 5,128 | $121,377 |
| Tract 508.02Washington County | 3,681 | $90,332 |
| Tract 510Washington County | 1,849 | $143,088 |
| Tract 9901Washington County | 0 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Westerly) · Census block assignment files
How does Westerly compare with other places in Rhode Island?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Westerly is the 498th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 9th-most populous of 31 in Rhode Island.
Westerly ranks 34th of 57 places in Rhode Island with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 9th | 31 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 30th | 39 |
| Residents per square mile | 33rd | 57 |
| Median household income | 34th | 57 |
| Per capita income | 10th | 57 |
| Median home value | 21st | 56 |
| Median gross rent | 40th | 51 |
| Poverty rate | 28th | 45 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd | 57 |
| Median age | 9th | 57 |
| Owner-occupied share | 30th | 56 |
| Work from home | 33rd | 49 |
| Travel time to work | 44th | 57 |
Westerly's figures with every place in Rhode Island (CSV)
Every place in Rhode Island, sortable · Compare Westerly with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Westerly?
11 of the 57 figures for Westerly on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Westerly are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.