City profile · Rhode Island · Census ACS 2023

East Providence, RI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for East Providence - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

46,970
Residents
$79,660
Median income
$322,100
Median home
$1,729
Median rent (state)

East Providence - the verdict

East Providence ranks in the 61st percentile for household income and the 74th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

61st
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
70th
percentile, median rent
74th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: East Providence, RI

East Providence is a small city in Rhode Island, home to 46,970 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in East Providence brings in $79,660 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.9%. Home values in East Providence run a median of $322,100, and the median resident age is 43.6 years. Educational attainment runs 32.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 126 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Active). East Providence reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 754.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Rhode Island tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Rhode Island scores 102.3 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,729 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Rhode Island run around $318, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 19.4 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

46,970 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Rhode Island

Median Household Income

$79,660 /yr

Poverty 7.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.3 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Rhode Island average

How does East Providence compare to other US cities?

East Providence measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% pricier than other cities
Safety 74% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Rhode Island, East Providence ranks #3 of 11 Rhode Island cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below East Providence's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Rhode Island, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

61stIncome percentile
74thSafety percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income · 74th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

East Providence's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

East Providence's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 55 Avg. percentile National median
East Providence's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How East Providence's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$322,100 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. East Providence $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - East Providence, RI East Providence, RI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not East Providence, RI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution East Providence, RI median $79,660/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
East Providence, RI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for East Providence, RI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
46,970
Median Income
$79,660
Median Home Value
$322,100
Median Age
43.6
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Labor force participation
60.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
754.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
73.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
681.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
46,500 residents47,000 residents47,500 residents48,000 residents48,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 47,046 residents 48,249 residents ▲ +2.6%
East Providence's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Active
Total Permits (2024)
126
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
110
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 7
2021 7
2022 9
2023 18
2024 126

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.4%
Carpool
8.4%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
10.7%
Other
1.6%

Based on 23,519 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Rhode Island - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$155
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$58
avg/month
Total Utilities
$318
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Rhode Island state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Rhode Island state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county East Providence sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.3
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,729/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
19.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Rhode Island

Woonsocket
43,074 people
Newport
25,029 people
Central Falls
22,481 people
Pawtucket
75,280 people
Westerly
18,528 people
Valley Falls
12,370 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to East Providence's 46,970 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Goose Creek, SC
46,964 people
La Mirada, CA
46,945 people
Huntsville, TX
46,917 people
Newark, CA
47,145 people
Rowland Heights, CA
46,787 people
Beavercreek, OH
46,787 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to East Providence's $79,660 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Everett, MA
$79,658 median income
Ault, CO
$79,654 median income
Traer, IA
$79,653 median income
Neches, TX
$79,667 median income
Harwood Heights, IL
$79,651 median income
Portsmouth, IA
$79,643 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - East Providence, RI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition East Providence, RI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.6% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.9% White 76.6% Black or African American 5.5% Asian 2.6% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.2% Two or more races 10.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How East Providence compares to nearby Rhode Island cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
East Providence (this city) 46,970 $79,660
Woonsocket 43,074 $58,614
Newport 25,029 $83,562
Central Falls 22,481 $45,921
Census ACS 5-year FIPS RI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about East Providence, RI?

What is the population of East Providence, RI? +

46,970 people live in East Providence, RI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in East Providence, RI? +

Median annual household income in East Providence runs $79,660, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in East Providence? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for East Providence; the closest available measure is the Rhode Island state average, a cost of living index of 102.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Is East Providence, RI safe? +

East Providence has a total crime rate of 754.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in East Providence, RI? +

Homes in East Providence carry a median value of $322,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.