State
Rhode Island
Rhode Island. Rhode Island had 1,114,521 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 67 places (8 incorporated, 31 towns and townships and 28 census-designated) in 5 counties; 1,034 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
1,114,521
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,097,379
Median household income
$87,796
±$1,209 (90% margin)
Median home value
$404,200
±$4,032 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$1,342
±$19 (90% margin)
How many people live in Rhode Island?
The 2020 Census counted 1,097,379 residents in Rhode Island. The Census Bureau estimates 1,114,521 for July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 61.9% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place (a city, village, borough or CDP); the state is also divided into 31 towns and townships that are local governments, and many of those places lie inside one.
Rhode Island is the 44th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Rhode Island | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,101,801 | +44,570 |
| Households | 441,570 ±1,908 | +31,081 |
| Average household size | 2.39 ±0.01 | −0.08 |
| Housing units | 485,932 ±179 | +17,597 |
Rhode Island's population since 2000
From 1,048,319 in 2000 to 1,114,521 in 2025: up 6.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Rhode Island?
Providence is Rhode Island's largest place with 195,310 residents in 2025, followed by Cranston (84,647 residents in 2025) and Warwick (84,187 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Providence | 195,310 | $68,119 |
| Cranston | 84,647 | $90,206 |
| Warwick | 84,187 | $88,708 |
| Pawtucket | 77,065 | $68,310 |
| East Providence | 48,249 | $75,912 |
| Woonsocket | 44,580 | $61,059 |
| Cumberland | 37,615 | $117,522 |
| Coventry | 36,281 | $102,946 |
| North Providence | 34,833 | $83,756 |
| South Kingstown | 32,009 | $108,960 |
| West Warwick | 31,487 | $77,608 |
| Johnston | 30,494 | $91,866 |
| North Kingstown | 27,885 | $126,293 |
| Newport | 24,251 | $86,313 |
| Lincoln | 23,713 | $104,821 |
| Westerly | 23,139 | $98,875 |
| Central Falls | 23,124 | $49,285 |
| Smithfield | 22,625 | $102,077 |
| Bristol | 21,970 | $97,764 |
| Westerly CDP | 18,411 | $95,207 |
| Portsmouth | 17,474 | $117,467 |
| Barrington | 16,961 | $153,198 |
| Burrillville | 16,927 | $119,813 |
| Middletown | 16,502 | $101,948 |
| Tiverton | 15,809 | $106,036 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 5 counties. Providence County is the largest with 678,179 residents in 2025; Bristol County is the smallest with 50,001.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Rhode Island?
The median resident of Rhode Island is 40.6 years old; 18.8% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 17.7%. 15.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rhode Island | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 ±0.2 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 18.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 17.7% | +2.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 68.0% ±0.2 pts | −4.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±0.2 pts | −0.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±0.1 pts | +0.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.3% ±0.4 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 23.1% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±0.2 pts | – |
| With a disability | 13.8% ±0.3 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±0.3 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.7% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.7% ±0.5 pts | +3.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.4% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Rhode Island earn?
Half of Rhode Island's 441,570 households earn less than $87,796 a year (±$1,209). In 2015-2019 the median was $82,662 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,134 after inflation. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rhode Island | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,796 ±$1,209 | +$5,134 |
| Mean household income | $115,075 ±$1,410 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,150 ±$573 | +$2,696 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.2% ±0.4 pts | −1.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.7% ±1.1 pts | −3.3 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.0% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.7% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Rhode Island?
Owners occupy 63.6% of Rhode Island's occupied homes and renters 36.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $404,200 by its owner (±$4,032). The median renter pays $1,342 a month including utilities, and 37.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rhode Island | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $404,200 ±$4,032 | +$81,881 |
| Median gross rent | $1,342 ±$19 | +$106 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.8% ±1.2 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,234 ±$17 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.6% ±0.6 pts | +2.8 pts |
| Housing units | 485,932 ±179 | +17,597 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.7% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.1% ±0.6 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Rhode Island building?
Builders took permits for 1,738 new housing units in Rhode Island in 2025 (730 single-family), 1.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Rhode Island get to work?
72.4% of Rhode Island's workers drive alone and 13.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Rhode Island | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.0% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±0.3 pts | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.4% ±0.8 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 13.0% ±0.5 pts | +8.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.5 min ±0.3 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections