United States › Rhode Island › Westerly CITY
Westerly Rhode Island · 18,411 residents · 15.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Westerly is home to 18,411 people in Rhode Island. The median age is 50.4, about 11 years above the US median. Few US cities rank higher on income. About 43% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 6% of locals were born outside the United States. Poverty is uncommon here, at 5.7% of locals.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 70%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 1,163 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 1,129 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 17K 18K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Westerly Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $95,207
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,860 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $23,180 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.396 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.8%
Education & health services 0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$448,800
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $144,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,260
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $591 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 60.6% in 2000
28.6% rent
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 5.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 93.9%(16,596)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(205)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 88.2%(16,236)
Hispanic / Latino 3.3%(601)
from 19 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 79.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 83.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 31.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 79.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 39.2%(3,258)
Women 15+
Never married 23.8%(1,934)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 62.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 75.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 35.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 9.8%(99)
Gulf War (1990s) 39.8%(401)
Share of the 1,007 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Westerly, Rhode Island? Westerly, Rhode Island has about 18,411 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Westerly, Rhode Island? The typical household in Westerly, Rhode Island earns about $95,207 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Westerly, Rhode Island expensive? In Westerly, Rhode Island, the median home is worth about $448,800, and the typical rent is about $1,260 a month.
How educated are people in Westerly, Rhode Island? About 43.3% of adults age 25 and over in Westerly, Rhode Island hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Westerly, Rhode Island? About 5.7% of people in Westerly, Rhode Island live below the federal poverty line.
Has Westerly, Rhode Island grown since 1990? Yes, Westerly, Rhode Island has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,799 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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