Cost of Living in Washington 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 Washington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washington County ranks #2,904 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Washington County Median Rent-to-Income Percentage Reaches 30.7%
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Washington County was 30.7% in the 2020-2024 ACS estimates. This official B25071 estimate is the canonical rentToIncomePct for the county and is 1.1 percentage points above the Rhode Island unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 29.6%. The median gross rent was estimated at $1,327 per month, while the median renter-household income was $48,732. For those in owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $510,800 and the median monthly owner cost was $1,890. This owner cost is above the state unweighted county mean of $1,883. 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: Washington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.7% of renter household income in Washington County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. 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 $1,890. 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. Washington 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 Washington County
Rent Burden
14.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,488
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.3%
of gross income
The median home in Washington County may be a stretch
Median home value is $510,800. Estimated monthly cost: $4,078 vs. your max of $2,488.
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 Washington 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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