$887,286Average Value$569Average Price per Sq Ft53Homes For Sale
A Block Island Sound resort town with a long history
Westerly’s history is multifaceted. It was once a shipbuilding center, where gunboats for the War of 1812 were built. It was also a mining town, the source of much of the granite used to carve Civil War monuments across the country. And before the English settled it in the 1660s, Westerly was home to Niantic Native Americans. They called the area “Misquamicut,” which translates to “red fish,” after Atlantic salmon found in the Pawcatuck. The Westerly of today, on the Rhode Island side of the Connecticut border, is a small town with a coastal resort-style atmosphere on the Block Island Sound. A little more than 23,000 people live here, but the population grows in the summer. Realtor Elizabeth Warner of Re/Max South County, a Westerly local, says the appeal for full-time and summer residents alike is simple: “Our taxes are low, and we have beautiful beaches.”
Westerly, Rhode Island, is home to approximately 20,000 residents.
Waterfront homes line the southern coast of Westerly, with many bordering inland ponds.
Walk through downtown Westerly to experience nightlife and retail of the area.
Westerly celebrates the end of summer and beginnings of fall.
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Cape Cods and saltbox houses on the coast
The Rhode Island Association of Realtors reports that in August 2024, the median price for single-family homes in Westerly was $916,875. That’s a nearly 70% increase from 2023, when the median was $552,500. The median price for condos in Westerly hovers around $385,000. Inland ranch-style homes and Cape Cod cottages tend to be on the lower end of the price range, while large Colonial Revivals and saltbox-style beach houses with private waterfronts sit on the upper end of the spectrum. On average, homes stay on the market for slightly less than 50 days before going under contract. Warner says inventory is tight due to an influx of house hunters from surrounding states such as New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. “We have a lot of cash buyers because many people here are buying second homes.” One such buyer? American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who has a home in the historic Watch Hill neighborhood. Known locally as the Harkness House, the Gilded Age mansion sold for more than $17 million when Swift bought it in 2013. It’s considered the most expensive private residence in the state.
Victorian style homes offer a contemporary view on some of the traditional colonial style homes.
Homes in every price range are found along the rocky shores of Westerly's beaches.
Contemporary colonial style homes are a common house type in Westerly.
Colonial style homes in Westerly are among the popular, with traditional New England flavor.
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Block Island Sound beaches, a century-old amusement park and more
Sandy sound-front beaches line the town’s coastline. Westerly Town Beach is private to residents, but the beach at Dunes Park is open to the public. The private Weekapaug Yacht Club hosts weekly races and offers youth sailing clinics. Atlantic Beach Park, an amusement park owned and operated by the Trefes family since 1921, is just west of the yacht club and Dunes Park. It’s home to an early-20th-century Herschell-Spillman Carousel and an arcade. The carousel is the oldest one still operational in the United States. A short walk down the water, there’s Misquamicut State Beach, a public beach with a playground and concessions. The Misquamicut Drive-In Theater, down the beach, is open May through October. Weekapaug Golf Club and Winnapaug Country Club feature golf courses overlooking Winnapaug Pond, just north. Weekapaug is a private, member-owned club while Winnapaug is a public club that offers memberships. The Westerly Land Trust, established in 1987, maintains nature preserves with multiuse trails and historic properties throughout town.
Fish off the shores of Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly.
Wilcox Park offers dog and family friendly walking trails through a pond and green space area.
Weekapaug Golf Club is a world ranked 9 hole course with water views on almost every hole.
Hundreds gather on Westerly Town Beach to hear great live music at Tunes on the Dunes.
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Historic downtown Westerly is the community’s cultural center
Westerly’s historic downtown is the heart of its restaurant and boutique retail scene, filled with antique stores, artisanal food markets, taphouses and more. Several of the eateries on Main Street offer outdoor seating with views of the Pawcatuck River. Every summer, the Pawcatuck is lit up with floating fire pits for River Glow, a small-scale version of Providence’s WaterFire event. Downtown Westerly is also home to The United, a 1920s vaudeville theater that now screens arthouse films and new-release blockbusters. On the other side of Wilcox Park, the Granite Theatre is a small playhouse offering performing arts classes. The Colonial Theatre of Rhode Island occupies another corner of Wilcox Park, where the professional theatre company hosts the annual Shakespeare in the Park festival. South of downtown, several shopping centers with national chain retailers, like Stop & Shop, Home Depot and Walmart, are spaced along U.S. Route 1.
The Amtrak station in Westerly, makes it easy to travel throughout the country.
Interstate travel is a short drive away, driving or walking over Broad St. into Connecticut.
Catch a movie at the United Theater in downtown Westerly.
Ritacco's Market and Deli in Westerly offers iconic sandwiches and "grinders".
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Westerly elementary schools under construction
The Westerly Public Schools system earns a B from Niche. The five schools in the district serve more than 2,200 students with an average student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. B-graded Westerly High School landed on the 2023 AP Honor Roll, a list of roughly 4,500 U.S. schools recognized for their Advanced Placement programs. In addition to more than 20 AP courses, Westerly High offers classes in subjects ranging from accounting to web page design. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony in August 2023 to mark the start of construction on a new State Street Elementary School building and upcoming renovations to the existing Dunn’s Corner and Springbrook elementaries. State Street’s new building is expected to open for students in 2026; the upgrades to Dunn’s Corner and Springbrook are scheduled to be completed in 2025. Private schools in nearby Connecticut include St. Michael School and Pine Point School. Unrated by Niche, St. Michael is a co-ed, Catholic school for kids between preschool and eighth grade. A-graded Pine Point School is a co-ed, nonparochial school for preschool through ninth grade.
Westerly Middle School has 740 students in grades 5-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1.
State Street School in Westerly has 246 students with a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.
Westerly High School in Westerly has 726 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.
Westerly Middle School is an above average, public school located in Westerly.
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Interstate 95 connects to Providence and Connecticut
Cross the state line from Connecticut into Rhode Island, and the mill rate drops, which means homeowners pay lower property taxes. The tradeoff is that homes in Connecticut are less expensive, but many residents still choose to live on the Rhode Island side of the border in Westerly and commute to Connecticut for work. Warner: “It comes down to: Would you rather spend less on a house, but more on taxes, or more on a house and less on taxes? People typically have the mindset that their payments should go to the principal of the mortgage, instead of taxes.” One of the largest local employers is the Pfizer research site in Groton, Connecticut, about 16 miles west. The drive takes about 20 minutes with no traffic via Interstate 95, which runs past the north side of Westerly. Providence, the Rhode Island state capital and a regional employment hub, is about 44 miles, or a 50-minute drive northeast on I-95. Amtrak’s Northeast Regional line offers train service from Westerly to Providence, too. The ride typically takes about 35 minutes. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority also provides bus service, with four stops clustered in downtown. Westerly Hospital, one of the largest private-sector employers in the state, is about a mile south of downtown. It’s near Westerly State Airport, which provides flight training and an 8-passenger commuter flight to Block Island State Airport. Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is in Warwick, about 37 miles northeast of Westerly.
Increasing crime rates and snow at the beach
According to the FBI, 175 violent crimes were committed in Westerly in 2023, an increase from 169 in 2022. FBI data also reflects an increase in property crimes during the same period, from 209 in 2022 to 253 in 2023.
In neighborhoods close to the water, there is some risk of flooding during higher-than-normal tides, or King Tides, and storm surges. However, most standing water impacts roads and parking areas rather than residences. Like most New England states, Rhode Island experiences four seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. While winters can be snowy, it’s rare for Westerly to accumulate more than a foot at a time.
Written By
Megan Quintin
Photography Contributed By
Johnny Milano
Video By
Scott Wiggins
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Liz Andersen Warner,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Westerly, RI sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Westerly, RI over the last 12 months is $610,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
FIRST SHOWINGS AT OPEN HOUSE MONDAY 8/3, 4PM-5PM. Well-maintained side-by-side 2-family offering an excellent opportunity for owner-occupants or investors alike. Both units feature identical floor plans with spacious living areas, 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, lower-level storage, and separate private entrances. One unit has been beautifully renovated with high-quality luxury vinyl plank flooring,
Welcome to this well-maintained condo in the desirable Prospect Place community. This inviting home offers a bright, comfortable layout with abundant natural light, a private deck, and the convenience of an under-house garage with direct interior access. Enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle in a location that truly has it all. Just a short walk to the downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck district, you'll
Unique Opportunity to Embrace the Coastal Lifestyle! This spacious 2,000+ square foot single-family home offers an exceptional opportunity to enjoy all that coastal Rhode Island has to offer. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, hardwood floors, and a newer roof, this home is ready for its next owner to make it their own. Ideally located less than a mile from the beautiful Misquamicut beaches, you'll
This spectacular scenic opportunity in a highly sought-after waterfront community sitting on an expansive double lot, originally purchased as 2 separate buildable lots, encircling a magnificent view of Dr. Lewis Pond Preserve, with access to the Pond across the street where you can bring a canoe, perched atop a majestic wooded hill for privacy, this 3-level oversized custom-built home with its
Beautiful cleared, level lot surrounded by mature trees in the coveted Misquamicut Beach area. This exceptional property offers the perfect opportunity to build your dream coastal retreat or a high-demand investment property just minutes from the beach. Experience the best of beach living with easy access to pristine sandy shores, charming coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and popular local
Rarely does an estate of this caliber become available in the heart of Watch Hill. Privately set on 15 extraordinary acres, this 6-bedroom, 7 full and 1 half bath residence offers unparalleled privacy, breathtaking water views, and timeless architectural character. Designed to capture sweeping vistas of Block Island, Montauk, Long Island, and the Misquamicut Golf Course, the home seamlessly
Build your dream home on this exceptional vacant lot at 225 Warren Road, Westerly, RI, offering the perfect blend of privacy, coastal living, and convenience. Much of the preliminary work has already been completed, including a survey, perc test approval, and a septic design pending final approval, making this property ready for the next steps toward construction.Enjoy deeded rights to
Welcome to Thalassa , a quintessential summer cottage on a private peninsula directly on Winnapuag Pond surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty. Enjoy spectacular bird watching and sunsets drenched in magnificent, unobstructable views of the pond. This rare find of exceptional waterfront privacy offers a secluded deck, fixed dock and well-situated outdoor space for an array of summer
FIRST SHOWINGS AT OPEN HOUSE MONDAY 8/3, 4PM-5PM. Well-maintained side-by-side 2-family offering an excellent opportunity for owner-occupants or investors alike. Both units feature identical floor plans with spacious living areas, 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, lower-level storage, and separate private entrances. One unit has been beautifully renovated with high-quality luxury vinyl plank flooring,
Exceptional opportunity to build your dream home on this half acre lot with approved septic design for a four bedroom residence in the desirable Shelter Harbor neighborhood. Enjoy access to Quonochotaug Pond and a premier coastal lifestyle with nearby beaches, golf, tennis, boating, and all that this sought after Seaside community has to offer.
Welcome to effortless coastal living in a sought-after Westerly condominium community. Set on a cul-de-sac less than 10 minutes from Historic Watch Hill and vibrant downtown Westerly, this beautifully upgraded home offers luxury, comfort, and low-maintenance living. The open-concept layout flows seamlessly between the living, dining, and kitchen spaces, perfect for entertaining. A stunning marble
A rare opportunity to own one of Southern Rhode Island's most distinctive custom timber frame homes, where timeless craftsmanship, modern efficiency, and effortless coastal living unite. Privately nestled on 1.5 wooded acres in an exclusive cul-de-sac just five minutes from Westerly's beaches, golf, tennis, and vibrant downtown, this exceptional three-year-old residence directly borders the
Zero Down. Zero Surprises. 100% Yours. Unlock the door to your future with an exclusive offer: Purchase this home and receive $6,749 back in closing cost credits OR lock in an exceptional financing rate of 5.54% APR with ZERO down payment available for those who qualify. --------------- This is a Certified Pre-Owned Home -- and that changes everything. Before you ever make an offer, a licensed
Rachel SanvilleYour Home Sold Guaranteed Realty, The Nathan Clark Team
Extraordinary Watch Hill Estate -- Where Modern Luxury Meets Timeless Elegance. This extraordinary estate seamlessly overlays a 2026 custom-built modern luxury home onto the timeless character of the original 1890 built Lion Gate Inn, providing the perfect balance of contemporary sophistication and history. Set in the heart of Watch Hill and positioned on 1.45 impeccably landscaped acres in one
Spacious 1st floor apartment with 3 bedrooms and close to downtown! Washer and dryer in unit. Water/Sewer/rubbish removal and landscaping included. No pets, no smoking, credit of 650+ and background check required.
Discover this great 3 bedroom apartment in the North End of Westerly, convenient to downtown and highways. Large bedrooms and living space with a newly added front porch. Available for a 12 month lease. Credit, background check, income verification, and references required.
Excellent 2 BDR, 1 1/2 bath townhouse duplex apartment in town at the end of a dead end st.including 1 car garage! Oil heat, W/D hookups, nice yard, pets negotiable.
Just painted interior of this 3BDR, 2 bath ranch on quiet side street. Tile and carpet flooring,oil heat, window A/C, 1 car attached garage,full basement w/ W/D hookups and lots of storage space, .3AC lot, pets negotiable, rent with option to buy available.
Enjoy the best of coastal living in this beautifully furnished off-season rental. Available from **September 19-June 5, 2027** this inviting home offers a comfortable living experience with everything you need already in place. Fully furnished with thoughtfully appointed living spaces, creating the perfect retreat for anyone looking to enjoy the quieter side of Westerly. Located in a beautiful
Special Summer Rental! Lovely 3BDR, 1 1/2 bath home 1/2 mile from the beach. Fully furnished with spacious yard w/separate outdoor entertainment building perfect for after beach barbecues and outdoor entertaining! 1 car garage,beach passes,& pets OK. Summer seasonal rates between 5/15/26 and 9/15/26 $2200/weekly, $8000/monthly, weekends according to availability.
**Off-Season Rental | September 8 – June 5 | Utilities Included**Experience coastal living at its finest in this beautifully appointed, completely turn-key home available for the off-season from *September 8 through June 5* Thoughtfully furnished with high-quality finishes throughout, this like-new home offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Simply bring your suitcase,
Charming Seasonal Studio All Utilities Included | 53 Winnapaug Rd, unit 1 Westerly, RI. Enjoy effortless coastal living in this fully furnished studio condo available as a seasonal rental October to April. Perfectly situated on Winnapaug Road, this cozy retreat offers comfort, convenience, and a touch of seaside charm. * Studio layout with natural light * All utilities included (heat, electric,
Enjoy living in the heart of Downtown Westerly with restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife just steps from yourdoor. Recently updated 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom second floor apartment is light, bright, and move in ready. Features includewasher & dryer hookups in the unit and comfortable, low maintenance living in an unbeatable location. A short drive to Westerly'sbeautiful
Charming Seasonal Studio All Utilities Included | 53 Winnapaug Rd, unit 8 Westerly, RI. Enjoy effortless coastal living in this fully furnished studio condo available as a seasonal rental October to April. Perfectly situated on Winnapaug Road, this cozy retreat offers comfort, convenience, and a touch of seaside charm.* Studio layout with natural light* All utilities included (heat,
1BR, 1BA second floor, loft style apartment located in centrally located Merchant Square plaza. Vibrant complex with many food and beverage options right outside your door. Short walk to downtown Westerly and close to area beaches. Subject to acceptable credit and background check by landlord.
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