Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive Plan2.3 Housing AvailabilityBetween 1990 and 2000, the number of housing units (year-round and seasonal) in Westerlyincreased by 7 percent (from 10,521 to 11,292 units). In 2000, 83 percent of the town’s 11,292housing units were occupied and 64 percent of all occupied housing units were owner-occupiedunits. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of owner-occupied units in the town increased by 15percent. Within the state as a whole, the owner occupancy rate increased by 9 percent within thesame time period.In 2000, the town had 1,890 vacant units and 75 percent of those units were seasonal housing units(13 percent of total housing units). It is important to note that most of these units characterized as“vacant” are seasonal units occupied by owners for summer and year-round weekend and holidayactivity and therefore not vacant as the term would typically imply. “Vacant” in the traditional senserepresents approximately 4 percent of total housing units. County-wide, seasonal homes accountedfor 85 percent of vacant units (15 percent of total housing units) but statewide the figure wassignificantly lower, 43 percent of vacant units (3 percent of total units). Comparison towns also hada significantly higher percentage of seasonal housing units than the state as a whole.Westerly is a community that includes a high proportion of homes that are occupied on a seasonalbasis. However, there is no census of Westerly’s seasonal population that would help town leadersbetter incorporate this population in its planning. It is estimated, however, that seasonal housing inWesterly comprises about 13 percent of units, or about 1,468 units in 2000. Using Westerly’saverage household size – 2.4 people – and assuming that all the seasonal housing units are occupied,the seasonal population increases the town’s year 2000 population by about 3,500, to almost 26,500.This is an increase of about 15 percent. 1 Not having a better gauge of the summer populationincrease, as well as weather factors, restricts to some extent the town’s ability to estimate the demandfor its services, including utilities, sanitation and emergency management.1 As an illustration of how little is really known about the level of increase of population in South County towns during the summer months: A 1995study by the US Army Corps of Engineers on hurricane preparedness estimated the summer population of South County beach communities at 28%higher than the year round population. The local rule of thumb holds that the population doubles in the summer including all residents, seasonal andyear-round, tourists and other visitors. The transient population for Misquamicut State Beach is estimated at 280,000 per year by the RI Department ofEnvironmental Management.peter j. smith & company, inc. 20