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City · 18,411 residents · Washington County, Rhode Island

Westerly , Rhode Island

In Westerly, a typical home is worth $448,800 and typical rent is $1,260 a month. Compared with all of Washington County, the typical home value is 12% lower, typical household income is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $448,800

    12% below the county

    11% above Rhode Island

    • Westerly
    • Washington
    • Rhode Island

  • Typical rent

    $1,260a month

    5% below the county

    6% below Rhode Island

    • Westerly
    • Washington
    • Rhode Island

  • Typical household income

    $95,207a year

    11% below the county

    8% above Rhode Island

    • Westerly
    • Washington
    • Rhode Island

  • Households that own their home

    71%

    6 points below the county

    8 points above Rhode Island

    • Westerly
    • Washington
    • Rhode Island

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$634,210
8.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,027 a month
2.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Westerly is in Washington County. The FHA loan limit ($787,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Washington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Westerly apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Westerly rose 8.8%; in Rhode Island, it rose 3.5%.

  2. Nearby, in Warwick, the typical home value is $354,600: 21% less than in Westerly ($448,800).

  3. 71% of households in Westerly own their home, against 78% in Washington County.

Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Westerly

What homes there are in Westerly, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Westerly, but it weighs less than in Washington County: 60% against 77%.

Year built

Homes in Westerly are older: the typical year built is 1972; in Washington County, 1977.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,120 a month

Washington County: $2,364 a month

Without a mortgage

$804 a month

Washington County: $947 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Washington County: 65%

Owning costs less in Westerly: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,120 a month; in Washington County, $2,364. Without one, $804.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Westerly rose 52%; in Washington County, it rose 49%.

The typical rent in Westerly rose 26% over the same time; in Washington County, it rose 17%.

To compare: typical income in Westerly rose 42%; the home, +52%; the rent, +26%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWesterlyWashington CountyRhode IslandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.9%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.192.342.392.53
Drive alone 81%76%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate5%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 10%15%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Westerly has 2.19 people, fewer than in Washington County (2.34).

To get to work, 81% of workers in Westerly drive alone; in Washington County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Westerly?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Westerly, worth $448,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Westerly, which is $95,207 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $157,925 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Washington County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Westerly. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,708 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,685

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$440,671
Total interest
$634,022
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,579 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,221 a month

  • Tight

    $2,221 to $2,856 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,856 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in Westerly ($95,207 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,685
Principal & interest$2,985
Property tax$314
Home insurance$187
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$199

You need at least $15,708 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Westerly and Washington County

Westerly is in Washington County, Rhode Island. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Westerly's own numbers

Typical home value
$448,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,260
Typical yearly household income
$95,207
Households that own their home
71%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Washington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$787,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,832–$1,879
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+66%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
9.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Washington County.

Everything about Washington County

Buying

Buying a home in Westerly

A typical home in Westerly is worth $448,800: 12% below the county and 11% above Rhode Island. With the typical household income in Westerly ($95,207 a year), a typical home costs 4.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Westerly 4.7 years
  • Washington 4.8 years
  • Rhode Island 4.6 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washington County rose 108% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Washington County.

Period County Rhode Island U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.3% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +66% +65% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +108% +112% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Westerly next to Washington County, Rhode Island and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Westerly $448,800
  • Washington $510,800
  • Rhode Island $404,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Westerly $1,260
  • Washington $1,327
  • Rhode Island $1,342
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Westerly $95,207
  • Washington $106,638
  • Rhode Island $87,796
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Westerly next to Washington County and Rhode Island
Measure Westerly Washington County Rhode Island U.S.
Typical home value $448,800 $510,800 $404,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,260 $1,327 $1,342 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $95,207 $106,638 $87,796 $80,734
Households that own their home 71% 78% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,784 $5,102 $4,900 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.84% 1% 1.21% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 51% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washington County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Westerly

For a typical $448,800 home in Westerly, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Westerly's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,685a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,708
    Cash to close
    $29,172
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $199

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,603a month

    Down payment
    $22,440
    Cash to close
    $35,904
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $213

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,933a month

    Down payment
    $89,760
    Cash to close
    $103,224
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,348a month

    Down payment
    $67,320
    Cash to close
    $80,784
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Westerly and for Washington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Westerly

0.84%of the home’s value each year

$3,784 a year for the typical owner in Westerly.

  • Westerly 0.84%
  • Washington 1%
  • Rhode Island 1.21%

What Rhode Island publishes Homestead exemption from your city or town (Rhode Island General Assembly (Rhode Island General Laws, Title 44))

Exemptions and deadlines in Rhode Island

Flood risk in Washington County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Washington County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
9.5%
4,832
Of those, with NFIP insurance
49%
County Rhode Island U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 9.5% 3.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 49% 49% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Westerly

Typical rent in Westerly is $1,260 a month: 5% below the county. In Westerly, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Washington County; Westerly is in Westerly-Hopkinton-New Shoreham, RI HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,832 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.23 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Westerly-Hopkinton-New Shoreham, RI HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,391 $26.75 $55,640
1 bedroom $1,400 $26.92 $56,000
2 bedrooms $1,832 $35.23 $73,280
3 bedrooms $2,325 $44.71 $93,000
4 bedrooms $2,758 $53.04 $110,320

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,832 to $1,879. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Washington County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people live
6 towns in this area

Charlestown town, Exeter town, Narragansett town, North Kingstown town, Richmond town, South Kingstown town

 $1,423$1,509$1,879$2,302$2,615$36.13
Westerly-Hopkinton-New Shoreham, RI HUD Metro FMR Area Westerly is in this area
3 towns in this area

Hopkinton town, New Shoreham town, Westerly town

 $1,391$1,400$1,832$2,325$2,758$35.23

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Westerly

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Westerly is in ZIP code 02891.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,890 in all of them.

  • 02891 $1,890$2,400
  • 02891 $1,890$2,400

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Westerly when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Westerly

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Westerly. These are the largest.

  • Babcock Village 122 Cross St, Westerly 02891 151 homes, 150 low-income · For older adults (401) 596-7574
  • Babcock Village 122 Cross St, Westerly 150 low-income homes · 1 bd: 135 · 2 bd: 15 · In service since 1998 · For older adults
  • Park View 5 Chestnut St, Westerly 02891 123 low-income homes · Run by Town of Westerly Housing Authority · Average payment: $555 a month · Average wait: 45 months (401) 596-4918
  • Merchants Village 25 Clark St, Westerly 02891 116 homes, 115 low-income · For older adults (401) 596-9754
  • Pierce Street Apartments 54 Pierce St, Westerly 02891 10 low-income homes · For people with disabilities

See all 44 buildings in Washington County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Westerly

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Washington County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Westerly

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Westerly or Washington County. The ones below are statewide in Rhode Island: they work in Westerly the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Rhode Island

  • 15kDPA

    Statewide in Rhode Island

    Rhode Island state agency loan of $15,000 at 0% with no monthly payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers with a RIHousing mortgage; repaid when you sell or leave the home. Offered by RIHousing.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Extra Assistance

    Statewide in Rhode Island

    RIHousing second mortgage for first-time buyers, of up to 6% of the price or $20,000 (whichever is less) for the down payment, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your RIHousing mortgage. Offered by RIHousing.

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Westerly

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Westerly, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Providence Housing Authority

    50 Laurel Hill Ave, Providence · 36 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL) and Portuguese.

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (401) 751-6400

  • West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation

    224 Dexter St, Providence · 36 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (401) 453-3220

  • Rhode Island Housing Help Center

    44 Washington St, Providence · 37 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    (401) 457-1000

All counseling agencies in Rhode Island

Help in Spanish near Westerly

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Westerly

HUD’s record names them for Westerly or Washington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Town of Westerly Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (401) 596-4918

2 other authorities have an office in Washington County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washington County

These cities are also in Washington County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washington County Housing in Rhode Island

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Westerly, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Washington County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Westerly.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Westerly

Short answers with the numbers for Westerly and all of Washington County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Westerly?

The typical home value in Westerly is $448,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washington County it is $510,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Westerly?

Typical rent in Westerly is $1,260 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washington County is $1,832–$1,879.

What is the FHA loan limit in Westerly?

Westerly uses the FHA limit for all of Washington County (2026): $787,750 for a one-unit home and $1,514,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Westerly?

The typical homeowner in Westerly pays $3,784 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in Washington County, the rate is 1%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Westerly?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Washington County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).