Rhode Island
Among the top 1% of US states for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 18% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 45% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A, better than 90% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 100% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 50% of US states
- top 2% for walkability
- top 2% for airport distance
- bottom 6% for sunny days
Rhode Island is a U.S. state with about 1,094,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, airport distance, and violent crime. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and sunny days.
Official websiteri.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Rhode Island is $346k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Rhode Island is $81k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Rhode Island is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Rhode Island has a violent crime rate of 817/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Rhode Island is 25 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$81k71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$52kbetter than 48% of US states
Home Value$346k73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 41% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$100kbetter than 41% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.41%better than 24% of US states
Income Tax6.30%better than 34% of US states
Sales Tax7.00%better than 47% of US states
Estimated total tax burden14.57%better than 22% of US states
Unemployment5.9%better than 27% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)30°F39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation50.0 in80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall38.9 inbetter than 31% of US states
Sunny Days185 daysbetter than 6% of US states
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 55% of US states
Comfortable Days99 daysbetter than 88% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk78.5better than 61% of US states
Air Quality44 AQIbetter than 66% of US states
School Quality88.9better than 86% of US states
Violent Crime817/100kbetter than 90% of US states
Property Crime1294/100kbetter than 80% of US states
Community
Population1,094,25016th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.480th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4149th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9624th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+2114th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)69.8%55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.3%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)16.7%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.4%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.7%61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time25 minbetter than 51% of US states
Walkability12.2/20better than 98% of US states
Airport Distance13 mibetter than 98% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.1%better than 71% of US states
Amenities Nearby3.67better than 51% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 45% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rhode Island an affordable place to live?
- Rhode Island is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $52k, better than 48% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Rhode Island safe?
- Rhode Island is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 817/100k (better than 90%). Property crime is 1294/100k.
- What is the weather like in Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island averages 73°F in July and 30°F in January, with 50.0 in of annual precipitation and about 185 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Rhode Island?
- Public-school quality in Rhode Island is above average, scoring better than 86% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Rhode Island?
- The average one-way commute in Rhode Island is 25 min.