Population 21,639 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Westerly
Household size in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Westerly are small: just 2.24 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.35 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.1 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.5 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.4 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Westerly skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.1 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Westerly, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Westerly
Renters in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.8% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.1% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Westerly rent their homes (25.3%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 35.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 6.5 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Westerly: 14.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Westerly has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Rhode Island cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Westerly leans older: the median home dates to 1972, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are newer than in the wider Providence area, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $979 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,055 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,137 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,276 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$297 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Westerly costs $1,276 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $297 a month from 2006–10, a 30% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Westerly
Bachelor's degrees in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.1% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.9 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Westerly is highly educated: 46.1% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 15.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.3% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Westerly: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 8.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Westerly
| Period | Westerly | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Westerly runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 4.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Westerly compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westerly | 2.24 | 51.5 | 6.4% | 25.3% | 14.0% | 1972 | $1,276 | 46.1% | 94.9% | 4.0% |
| Pawcatuck | 2.19 | 45.3 | 9.1% | 32.3% | 6.2% | 1964 | $1,444 | 43.8% | 95.3% | 3.8% |
| Wequetequock | 2.30 | 46.7 | 15.4% | 14.4% | 8.8% | 1973 | $2,229 | 56.5% | 96.6% | 4.2% |
| Bradford | 2.46 | 37.1 | 8.4% | 24.6% | 13.6% | 1974 | $1,262 | 39.0% | 97.1% | 6.3% |
| Ashaway | 2.63 | 45.7 | 14.5% | 17.9% | 10.4% | 1960 | $1,414 | 35.3% | 97.2% | 4.5% |
| Stonington | 2.03 | 58.4 | 9.6% | 22.7% | 15.6% | 1964 | $1,783 | 61.1% | 98.5% | 4.6% |
| North Stonington | 2.51 | 49.9 | 7.2% | 7.2% | 10.9% | 1973 | $1,298 | 53.8% | 98.2% | 2.2% |
| Wood River Junction | 2.86 | 37.3 | 14.2% | 9.5% | 13.4% | 1974 | $1,587 | 43.9% | 97.4% | 3.8% |
| Old Mystic | 2.17 | 48.0 | 4.6% | 7.7% | 11.2% | 1982 | $1,379 | 52.4% | 97.5% | 0.5% |
| Charlestown | 2.27 | 54.4 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 31.2% | 1977 | $1,473 | 41.8% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Hopkinton | 1.74 | 53.5 | 3.1% | 47.5% | 13.2% | 1987 | $546 | 45.6% | 97.3% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Westlake Village, CA · Belgrade, MT · Bellefonte, PA · Bethany, OK · West Carson, CA · West Pensacola, FL · West Richland, WA · West St. Paul, MN · Westborough, MA · Westbrook, ME
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Westerly. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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