Cost of Living in Providence 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 Providence County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Providence County ranks #2,877 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Providence County Median Renter Income Estimated at $48,754
Renter-household median income in Providence County was estimated at $48,754 according to 2020-2024 ACS 5-year data. The median gross rent for the county was $1,312 per month, which is below the Rhode Island unweighted county mean of $1,441. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $373,600 and median monthly owner costs were $1,764. The official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.9%. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 0.7 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 29.6%. These metrics provide a snapshot of housing costs for both renter and owner populations in the county. 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: Providence County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in Providence 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 $1,312 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,764. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $52,480 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. Providence County's $1,312 median is 9.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Providence County
Rent Burden
20.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,838
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.9%
of gross income
The median home in Providence County may be a stretch
Median home value is $373,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,983 vs. your max of $1,838.
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 Providence 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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