The Town FilesWest Warwick, Rhode Island
Town in Kent County · population 31,012 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $330,800
- Household income
- $77,608
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.8
West Warwick is a town of 31,012 people in Kent County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $330,800, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Rhode Island towns, more vibrant than 86% of Rhode Island towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Rhode Island towns.
How West Warwick ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Warwick is worth $330,800, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $77,608, which is more affordable than 53% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,303 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Warwick | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,800 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,303 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $77,608 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Warwick
| People | West Warwick | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in West Warwick
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Warwick since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 18, 2023 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2019.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 75,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,016 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in West Warwick itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in West Warwick
7 public schools with 3,697 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Warwick High School | 9-12 | 1,072 | 13.4 |
| John F. Deering Middle | 5-8 | 1,049 | 10.3 |
| John F. Horgan School | K-4 | 481 | 13.7 |
| Greenbush Elementary School | K-4 | 446 | 12.7 |
| Wakefield Hills El. School | K-4 | 397 | 10.7 |
| Hope School | K-5 | 174 | 10.2 |
| Maisie E. Quinn School | PK-PK | 78 | 15.6 |
Towns near West Warwick
- East Greenwich, RI3.1 mi · 14,312 people · home $671,700
- Warwick, RI5.4 mi · 82,823 people · home $354,600
- Cranston, RI6.5 mi · 82,934 people · home $378,300
- Coventry, RI7.4 mi · 35,688 people · home $356,200
- West Greenwich, RI7.9 mi · 6,528 people · home $535,400
- North Kingstown, RI8.3 mi · 27,732 people · home $543,700
- Exeter, RI9.4 mi · 6,460 people · home $509,200
- Johnston, RI10.2 mi · 29,568 people · home $355,500
West Warwick questions
Is West Warwick, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Warwick scores better for retirees than 14% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 16%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in West Warwick?
The median owner-occupied home in West Warwick is valued at $330,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,608, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,303 a month.
What is the weather like in West Warwick?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does West Warwick get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Warwick since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 18, 2023. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)