Newport vs Providence
Newport, Rhode Island versus Providence, Rhode Island: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Newport edges out Providence on overall objective livability (51 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Newport | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $81k | $61k |
| Cost of Living | $70k | $50k |
| Home Value | $623k | $293k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.83% | 1.46% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.68% | 15.30% |
| Unemployment | 10.0% | 7.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5 in | 47.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0 in | 36.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 185 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 98 days | 104 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 8.4 | 33.5 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 96.2 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | — | 1327/100k |
| Property Crime | — | 2536/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 25,087 | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 32.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.38 | 0.71 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.94 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | D+30 | D+23 |
| White (%) | 75.7% | 34.4% |
| Black (%) | 7.1% | 12.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 9.6% | 42.6% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 6.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.8% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 24 min |
| Walkability | 16.4/20 | 17.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 17 mi | 6 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.5% | 85.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 66.57 | 33.31 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Newport or Providence more affordable?
- Providence has the lower cost of living: its index is $50k, compared with Newport's $70k and Providence's $50k. Median rent is $2k in Newport versus $1k in Providence.
- Are homes cheaper in Newport or Providence?
- The median home value is $623k in Newport and $293k in Providence, so homes are more affordable in Providence.