Westerly, RI · standard
ZIP Code 02891
Washington County, Rhode Island - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,198
- 311/sq mi High-density area
- $97,110
- Median income Above-median income area
- $470,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 46.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Westerly pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 21%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 311
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02891 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 02891 (Westerly, RI) rose +8.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 296.1 in 2023 to 321.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02891 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island, with 21,198 residents across 68.2 square miles, a density of 311 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02891 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $97,110 (5% below the average Rhode Island ZIP), while per-capita income is $60,285. The poverty rate is 5.5%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $470,000 (3% above the average Rhode Island ZIP) and median rent is $1,266; 74.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 53.5, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Washington County, so 02891 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 02891
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Westerly, RI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02891.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
121 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
105 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
95 establishments
- Construction
Construction
80 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
77 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 02891, Westerly, RI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,198
Population
68.2
Area (sq mi)
311
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02891?
53.5
Median Age
51.2%
Male
48.8%
Female
5.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$97,110
Median Household Income
-5% vs state ZIP avg
$60,285
Per Capita Income
5.5%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
23.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02891 ranks among Rhode Island ZIPs
Westerly, RI household income vs. every Rhode Island ZIP code
Median household income among 71 reporting Rhode Island ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$97,110 39th percentile higher than 39% of 71 Rhode Island ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Rhode Island ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,345housing units
12,345
Total Housing Units
9,753
Occupied Units
2,592
Vacant Units
2.18
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$470,000
Median Home Value
+3% vs state ZIP avg
$1,266
Median Rent
1973
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.4%
YoY Change (2024)
321
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+221%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02891 have increased 8.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +221% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 203 |
| 2021 | +13.6% | 231 |
| 2022 | +16.4% | 269 |
| 2023 | +10.2% | 296 |
| 2024 | +8.4% | 321 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 740 business establishments in ZIP 02891, employing approximately 7,587 people with a combined annual payroll of $429,014,000.
740
Businesses
7,587
Employees
$429.0M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 121 | 16.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 105 | 14.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 95 | 12.8% |
| Construction | 80 | 10.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 77 | 10.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 54 | 7.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 5.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 37 | 5.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 33 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 3.4% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 2.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 19 | 2.6% |
| Information | 10 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 02891 vs 06379 →
ZIP 02891 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02891
Westerly (02891)
21,198 residents
- 06379
Pawcatuck (06379)
9,038 residents
- 02813 7,831
Charlestown (02813)
7,831 residents
- 06378 5,399
Stonington (06378)
5,399 residents
- 06359 5,313
North Stonington (06359)
5,313 residents
- 02832 4,608
Hope Valley (02832)
4,608 residents
- 02804 2,607
Ashaway (02804)
2,607 residents
- 02808 2,401
Bradford (02808)
2,401 residents
- 02812 1,497
Carolina (02812)
1,497 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02891 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02891 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 06378
Stonington (06378)
$135,714 median income
- 06359
North Stonington (06359)
$123,938 median income
- 02813
Charlestown (02813)
$109,404 median income
- 02808
Bradford (02808)
$106,681 median income
- 02832
Hope Valley (02832)
$105,976 median income
- 02812
Carolina (02812)
$104,934 median income
- 02804
Ashaway (02804)
$102,118 median income
- 02891
Westerly (02891)
$97,110 median income
- 06379
Pawcatuck (06379)
$95,066 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02891 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06379 | Pawcatuck, CT | 9,038 | 3.4 mi |
| 02804 | Ashaway, RI | 2,607 | 5.1 mi |
| 02808 | Bradford, RI | 2,401 | 4.1 mi |
| 06378 | Stonington, CT | 5,399 | 6.4 mi |
| 02833 | Hopkinton, RI | 784 | 8.8 mi |
| 02813 | Charlestown, RI | 7,831 | 6.9 mi |
| 02894 | Wood River Junction, RI | 722 | 7.7 mi |
| 06359 | North Stonington, CT | 5,313 | 8.7 mi |
| 02832 | Hope Valley, RI | 4,608 | 10.8 mi |
| 02812 | Carolina, RI | 1,497 | 10.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02891, both outside RI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,198 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Washington County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02891 in?
ZIP code 02891 (Westerly) is located in Washington County, Rhode Island. Washington County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/washington-ri.
What is the population of ZIP code 02891?
ZIP code 02891 in Westerly, RI has a population of 21,198 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02891?
The median household income in ZIP 02891 is $97,110, which is 27% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02891?
The median home value in ZIP 02891 is $470,000, which is 69% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02891?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02891 is White at 89.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02891?
ZIP code 02891 has 740 business establishments employing approximately 7,587 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02891?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02891 are: Retail trade (121), Accommodation and food services (105), Health care and social assistance (95). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02891?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02891 increased by 8.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 221%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 02891?
In ZIP code 02891, 72.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 02891?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02891 is 23.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02891?
In ZIP code 02891, approximately 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02891?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02891 is 5.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 02891's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02891 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Westerly, RI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.