Population 1,101,801 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rhode Island
Household size in Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Rhode Island run small, averaging 2.49 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has edged down from 2.52 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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Rhode Island skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in northeastern Rhode Island, the oldest in southeastern Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Rhode Island as they are nationally: 11.7%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rhode Island
Renters in Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Rhode Island is about as common as it is nationally: 36.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among owners, 33.1% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in northeastern Rhode Island and least common in southwestern Rhode Island. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.1 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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Rhode Island as nationally: 9.2%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Rhode Island is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in southwestern Rhode Island, the oldest in northeastern Rhode Island. Only one other state has older homes.
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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$507 | +$606 |
The median renter in Rhode Island pays $1,448 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $507 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in southeastern Rhode Island; the most affordable are in northwestern Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island
Bachelor's degrees in Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Rhode Island as nationally: 37.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Rhode Island have finished high school as nationally: 89.4%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Rhode Island
| Period | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Rhode Island is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Rhode Island compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 2.49 | 41.6 | 11.7% | 36.4% | 9.2% | 1961 | $1,448 | 37.8% | 89.4% | 5.9% |
| Massachusetts | 2.52 | 41.4 | 10.6% | 37.5% | 7.9% | 1963 | $1,860 | 47.2% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
| Connecticut | 2.55 | 42.1 | 11.4% | 33.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 5.6% |
| New Hampshire | 2.51 | 44.2 | 8.5% | 27.2% | 11.7% | 1976 | $1,597 | 41.1% | 94.5% | 3.4% |
| Vermont | 2.31 | 44.2 | 8.6% | 26.8% | 15.7% | 1973 | $1,306 | 44.6% | 94.8% | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 2.76 | 40.9 | 11.3% | 36.2% | 6.6% | 1969 | $1,896 | 43.4% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| New York | 2.65 | 40.8 | 11.6% | 45.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,794 | 39.8% | 87.3% | 6.6% |
| Maine | 2.30 | 45.0 | 8.8% | 25.7% | 16.4% | 1975 | $1,230 | 36.5% | 94.8% | 3.9% |
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Wyoming · Wisconsin · West Virginia · Washington · Virginia · Vermont · Utah · Texas · Maine
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 Rhode Island. 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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