ZIP Code · RI

ZIP 02891

Part of Westerly, RI

Pop. 21,587·Washington County·21st most expensive ZIP in Rhode Island

Median rent (all units)

$2,027/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$95

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02891 · $2,027

More expensive than 63% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,400

1 BR

$1,410

2 BR

$1,780

3 BR

$2,220

4 BR+

$2,410

Research median

$1,780/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 02891 is 0.9% below its high of $2,045 in May 2026, at $2,027 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Rhode Island

Rent in ZIP 02891 changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 25 Rhode Island ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($97,110) is $2,428 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,410).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02891. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$24,324/yr

At $2,027/mo median

Location

CityWesterly

StateRI

CountyWashington County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02891 (Westerly, RI) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 46.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,587

Median income

$97,110

Median age

53.5

Renters

25.4%

Age distribution

13.4%

19%

19.9%

20.3%

27.5%

Under 1813.4%

18–3419%

35–5419.9%

55–6420.3%

65+27.5%

Gender

51.2%

48.8%

Male51.2%

Female48.8%

Race & ethnicity

89.5%

White89.5%

Black0.6%

Hispanic2.8%

Asian3%

Other4.1%

Education (25+)

26.8%

22.1%

46.1%

No HS diploma5%

HS diploma26.8%

Some college22.1%

Bachelor's+46.1%

Housing tenure

74.6%

25.4%

Owner74.6%

Renter25.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02891 in Westerly, RI has changed in 5 years

Income

$82,331 → $97,110

up 18.0%

Population

21,998 → 21,587

down 1.9%

Renter share

28.1% → 25.4%

-2.7 pts

Bachelor's+

36.5% → 46.1%

+9.6 pts

Median age

50.4 → 53.5

+3.1 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $82,331 in 2021 to $97,110 more recently. The population has contracted by 1.9% since 2021, moving from about 21,998 residents to roughly 21,587. Renters now make up 25.4% of households, compared with 28.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 46.1% of adults here, versus 36.5% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 02891

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02891 covers Westerly, RI. The median rent here is $2,027/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,780/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($97,110/yr), ZIP 02891 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02891?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,027/mo in ZIP 02891. The local median household income is $97,110/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02891?

Rent in ZIP 02891 has risen 3.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $2,045 in May 2026.

How does ZIP 02891 compare to other ZIPs in Rhode Island?

ZIP 02891 is in the middle among Rhode Island ZIP codes for rent, ranking #21 of 32 at $2,027/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02891 changed +3.8%, against a typical +4.8% across the 25 Rhode Island ZIP codes Zillow tracks.