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Moving to
Westerly.
Westerly is an unincorporated community in Washington County, RI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Westerly
Westerly is an unincorporated community in Rhode Island with rent below the national average, county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Westerly deals with home prices well above the national average, cold winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- High home prices
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Westerly compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Westerly
Based on Westerly's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,520
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,400 a year
- 45% of Westerly renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$89,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,880
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,260/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,260 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $448,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $448,800 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Washington County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Washington County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 92% below US
26 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 598/100k · Westerly Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 20% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (28 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Westerly's strongest points are rent below the national average and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,260/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Westerly
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