Rhode Island

Population

Growing. Up 1.6% since 2020.

1,114,521

people, the 44th-largest of the 50 states and D.C.

Census Population Estimates, 2025. Rank among the 50 states and D.C. computed by the Almanac. Sources: Census Population Estimates

The workday

About 1 in 7 jobs here go to people who live in another state.

14.0%

of 479,779 jobs located in Rhode Island are filled by people who live in another state.

Census LEHD LODES, 2023. Sources: Census LEHD LODES

Unemployment, 2026

The low came in September: 2.9%.

2.9%

in September 2026, the latest month released. A year earlier it was 3.7%.

BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, monthly, through September 2026. Not seasonally adjusted, so compare with the same month a year earlier. Sources: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Rent

Median rent is up 55% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

$1,342

a month. The U.S. median is $1,413.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024 (latest), with earlier 5-year windows. Sources: Census ACS 5-year

Room to build

The median rent sits inside what local wages can carry.

$1,121–$1,681

is the monthly rent range local workforce wages support.

• $1,342 median

Supportable rent computed by the Almanac from 2023 source wage data. Median rent: Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Computed by the Almanac, Census ACS 5-year

Building

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

• 13,739 homes permitted in ten years, 2016–2025
• 34% of those were in multifamily buildings
• 89% of all homes were built before 2000

Census Building Permits Survey, 2016–2025; Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census Building Permits Survey, Census ACS 5-year

Home value

A median home costs 21% more than the U.S. median.

$404,200

median home value in Rhode Island.

• $404,200 Rhode Island
• $332,700 U.S.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census ACS 5-year