Population 664,854 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Providence County
Household size in Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Providence County has 2.57 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of the Providence area. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the east.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.4 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.1 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
At 39.1, the median age in Providence County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the wider Providence area, where the median age is 41.7. The median age has climbed from 37.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Providence County (13.9%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Providence County
Renters in Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.6% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.8% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.1% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than four in ten households in Providence County rent their homes (43.1%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 31.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.4 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Providence County than nationally: 8.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Providence area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Providence County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1952 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $886 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $934 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,039 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,382 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
Rent in Providence County runs $1,382 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $496 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Providence County
Bachelor's degrees in Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.2% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Providence County than nationally: 32.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.5% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.6% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.5% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.0% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Providence County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.6 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 Providence County
| Period | Providence County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Providence County than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Providence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 2.57 | 39.1 | 13.9% | 43.1% | 8.0% | 1957 | $1,382 | 32.2% | 86.0% | 6.7% |
| Bristol County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Windham County | 2.45 | 42.5 | 12.5% | 28.9% | 6.9% | 1968 | $1,200 | 25.9% | 90.3% | 5.9% |
| Tolland County | 2.48 | 40.8 | 8.9% | 27.0% | 8.3% | 1976 | $1,502 | 45.0% | 94.2% | 5.2% |
| 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% |
| Ulster County | 2.35 | 45.3 | 9.8% | 30.1% | 13.3% | 1966 | $1,495 | 39.5% | 92.5% | 5.1% |
| Susquehanna County | 2.45 | 48.1 | 9.4% | 21.5% | 26.0% | 1972 | $998 | 19.3% | 91.0% | 5.8% |
| Bradford County | 2.46 | 44.7 | 9.3% | 27.8% | 16.3% | 1967 | $954 | 21.0% | 90.8% | 6.3% |
| Tioga County | 2.38 | 45.4 | 8.9% | 22.6% | 19.9% | 1967 | $902 | 22.8% | 92.3% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Arapahoe County, CO · Jefferson County, AL · Jackson County, MO · Hudson County, NJ · El Paso County, CO · Polk County, FL · District of Columbia, DC · Denver County, CO · Davidson County, TN · Bucks County, PA
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 Providence 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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