Kent County, Rhode Island Income Statistics
Kent County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Kent County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Kent County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $94,069 | $88,093 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $69,156 | $66,452 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.7% | 14.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Kent County is about 7% higher than in Rhode Island. Income has been growing slower in Kent County (4.6%/yr) than in Rhode Island (5.2%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Kent County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Rhode Island average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Kent County, Rhode Island grew by 52.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $94,069 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Kent County
| Metric | Kent County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.529 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $80,487 | $75,201 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $66,288 | $63,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.6% | 16.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Kent County, it is 0.501, lower than Rhode Island's 0.529, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Kent County, Rhode Island. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $496,965 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kent County, Rhode Island has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,605 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Kent County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.9% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 4,511 people are unemployed in Kent County, Rhode Island.
The average commute time in Kent County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Rhode Island.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Kent County, Rhode Island has fallen from 8.6% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2019.
Kent County, RI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Kent County, RI is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 171,061 residents against a local median of 84,657. Nothing separates Kent County, RI sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 14% below the local median at 4.7% against 5.5%. Kent County, RI has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County, RI | 171,061 | $94,069 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #5/6 | 4.7% #3/6 | 0.501 #1/6 |
| Providence County, RI | 663,899 | $78,766 | 5.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.537 |
| Washington County, RI | 130,338 | $108,800 | 4.9%/yr | 4.4% | 0.525 |
| Bristol County, RI | 50,443 | $112,759 | 5.8%/yr | 3.0% | 0.532 |
| Newport County, RI | 84,657 | $103,981 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.501 |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 78,384 | $92,667 | 3.9%/yr | 6.5% | 0.502 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Kent County, Rhode Island has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Rhode Island, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Kent County, Rhode Island.
How Rich Is Kent County, Rhode Island?
Kent County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $94,069, about 7% higher than the Rhode Island average of $88,093.
How has median household income changed in Kent County, Rhode Island?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Kent County, Rhode Island rose 52%, from $61,830 to $94,069. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Rhode Island as a whole: +52% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Kent County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Kent County, Rhode Island was $91,297, up 6% from $86,261 in 2022. The Rhode Island median that year was $86,472.
What was the median household income in Kent County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Kent County, Rhode Island was $76,141. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $94,069.
What is the Gini coefficient in Kent County, Rhode Island?
The Gini coefficient in Kent County is 0.501. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Kent County, Rhode Island?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kent County, Rhode Island has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,605 since 2009.
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