Population 171,456 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kent County
Household size in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Kent County are small: just 2.40 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.44 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.4 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Kent County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Kent County than nationally: 9.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Kent County
Renters in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.9% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Kent County own their homes; 26.9% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 32.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southwest. The renter share is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Kent County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.5 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Kent County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The picture is much the same across the Providence area. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $951 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,046 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,179 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,442 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$491 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kent County costs $1,442 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $491 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Kent County
Bachelor's degrees in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.8% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Kent County as nationally: 34.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.3 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.1% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kent County is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Kent County
| Period | Kent County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kent County is close to the national rate: 4.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Providence area overall (5.8%). Unemployment is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Kent County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 2.40 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 26.9% | 5.8% | 1966 | $1,442 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.7% |
| Bristol County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Newport County | 2.25 | 46.8 | 6.9% | 32.1% | 14.5% | 1965 | $1,760 | 54.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Barnstable County | 2.20 | 54.1 | 6.9% | 18.9% | 29.4% | 1977 | $1,772 | 48.4% | 96.2% | 4.9% |
| Hartford County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 35.1% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,572 | 40.8% | 90.8% | 5.4% |
| Litchfield County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 8.7% | 23.0% | 12.4% | 1967 | $1,383 | 38.9% | 94.3% | 5.1% |
| Dutchess County | 2.49 | 43.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 6.7% | 1970 | $1,686 | 41.4% | 92.5% | 5.2% |
| Sullivan County | 2.61 | 41.0 | 15.9% | 32.6% | 34.1% | 1973 | $1,223 | 28.8% | 87.1% | 5.2% |
| Wayne County | 2.35 | 49.3 | 9.3% | 19.5% | 28.3% | 1977 | $1,056 | 24.3% | 92.4% | 5.8% |
| Wyoming County | 2.34 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 22.1% | 15.0% | 1970 | $956 | 22.3% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wyandotte County, KS · Beaver County, PA · Carroll County, MD · Catawba County, NC · Charles County, MD · Chittenden County, VT · Comal County, TX · Davidson County, NC · Dorchester County, SC · Porter County, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Kent County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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