Cost of Living in Kent County, Rhode Island
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Kent County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kent County ranks #2,891 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Kent County Median Home Value Estimated at $366,100
The median home value in Kent County was estimated at $366,100 during the 2020-2024 period. This value is below the Rhode Island unweighted county mean of $474,800. Median gross rent for the county was $1,327 per month, which is also below the state unweighted county mean of $1,441. For owner-occupied housing units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,800. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), or rentToIncomePct, was 29.8%. This official B25071 estimate is 0.2 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. Renter-household income was recorded at a median of $49,043. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Kent County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.8% of renter household income in Kent County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,327 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,800. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $53,080 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Rhode Island unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,441 per month. Kent County's $1,327 median is 7.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Kent County
Rent Burden
16.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,201
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.9%
of gross income
The median home in Kent County may be a stretch
Median home value is $366,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,923 vs. your max of $2,201.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Kent County, Rhode Island?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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