The Town FilesWesterly, Rhode Island
Community in Washington County · population 18,423 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $448,800
- Household income
- $95,207
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.4
Westerly is a community of 18,423 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $448,800, close to the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for cycling than 83% of Rhode Island towns, more vibrant than 79% of Rhode Island towns, better for a vacation home than 76% of Rhode Island towns.
How Westerly ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Westerly is worth $448,800, close to the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $95,207, which is more affordable than 37% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,260 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westerly | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $448,800 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,260 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $95,207 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Westerly
| People | Westerly | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in Westerly
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westerly since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 13, 2021 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 14, 2023 | Fire | FM-5464: Queens River Fire |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 59,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Westerly itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Westerly
- Pawcatuck, CT2.6 mi · 5,433 people · home $360,600
- Westerly, RI3.5 mi · 23,359 people · home $466,600
- Stonington, CT5.5 mi · 18,335 people · home $483,400
- Charlestown, RI6.6 mi · 7,997 people · home $525,500
- North Stonington, CT7.6 mi · 5,149 people · home $397,100
- Hopkinton, RI7.7 mi · 8,398 people · home $404,300
- Mystic, CT7.8 mi · 4,348 people · home $538,800
- Old Mystic, CT9.3 mi · 3,493 people · home $342,500
Westerly questions
Is Westerly, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westerly scores better for retirees than 60% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 53%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Westerly?
The median owner-occupied home in Westerly is valued at $448,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,207, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,260 a month.
What is the weather like in Westerly?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Westerly get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westerly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 13, 2021. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)