PROFILE

Westerly, RI is a seaside community of 23,000 -- that population easily doubles during the summer tourist season. The median income is around $44,000, not far off from the national median.

A safe, clean and inviting community, Westerly is located on the southern tip of Rhode Island, bordering the southeastern corner of Connecticut.

A community with a tangible ‘sense of place;’ it has the charm of an old New England village combined with a singular history of Native American origins. The Indian name for Westerly was Misquamicut - a place for taking salmon. Westerly is unique given its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and boasts more than 7 miles of sandy beaches, widely regarded as some of the finest on the East Coast including the lovely Watch Hill. Westerly is composed of 7 villages also known as first districts: Westerly; Watch Hill; Dunn's Corners; Misquamicut; Bradford; Shelter Harbor and Weekapaug.

Westerly Public Schools – (pop. statsfor Sept. 2009) -- Bradford Elementary School, PreK-4 153 students, Dunn's Corners Elementary School, K-4, 306 students, Springbrook Elementary School, K-4, 258 students, State Street Elementary School, K-4, 262 students Westerly High School, 9-12, 1073 students, Westerly Middle School,5-8, 956 students. Regarded as one of the best school districts in Rhode Island, Westerly Public Schools is one of the few communities in the state with all of its schools rated as high performing. Westerly's elementary and middle school students led the state in 2007-2008 with significant improvement in reading, writing and mathematics on a statewide standardized test.

Westerly’s crime rate is considered low. But besides thefts and vandalism, drug and/or alcohol violations lead Westerly crime statistics. Westerly is not immune to both small town and big city problems, especially when it comes to youth using alcohol and drugs.