Washington County, Rhode Island Income Statistics
Washington 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
Washington County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $108,800 | $88,093 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $75,752 | $66,452 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.7% | 14.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 20.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 24% higher than in Rhode Island. Income has been growing slower in Washington County (4.9%/yr) than in Rhode Island (5.2%/yr).
About 20% of adults in Washington 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 Washington County, Rhode Island grew by 55.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $108,800 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington County
| Metric | Washington County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.525 | 0.529 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $88,250 | $75,201 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $72,129 | $63,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.3% | 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 Washington County, it is 0.525, about the same as Rhode Island's 0.529, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Washington County, Rhode Island. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $564,235 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Rhode Island has narrowed from about 26% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $378 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.3% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,064 people are unemployed in Washington County, Rhode Island.
The average commute time in Washington County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Rhode Island.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington County, Rhode Island has fallen from 6.5% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.2% in 2013.
Washington County, RI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Washington County, RI is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 130,338 residents against a local median of 171,061. Washington County, RI's median household income, at $108,800, runs 16% above the $94,069 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $33,993 on median household income, so Washington County, RI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Washington County, RI has the 2nd highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, RI | 130,338 | $108,800 #2/6 | 4.9%/yr #3/6 | 4.4% #2/6 | 0.525 #3/6 |
| Kent County, RI | 171,061 | $94,069 | 4.6%/yr | 4.7% | 0.501 |
| Newport County, RI | 84,657 | $103,981 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.501 |
| Bristol County, RI | 50,443 | $112,759 | 5.8%/yr | 3.0% | 0.532 |
| Providence County, RI | 663,899 | $78,766 | 5.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.537 |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 252,265 | $86,956 | 3.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.525 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington 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 Washington County, Rhode Island.
How Rich Is Washington County, Rhode Island?
Washington 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 $108,800, about 24% higher than the Rhode Island average of $88,093.
Are incomes growing in Washington County, Rhode Island?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington County, Rhode Island rose 56%, from $69,839 to $108,800. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Rhode Island as a whole: +56% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington County, Rhode Island was $103,212, up 4% from $99,528 in 2022. The Rhode Island median that year was $86,472.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington County, Rhode Island was $89,260. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $108,800.
Is Washington County, Rhode Island a high-income area?
Yes. 20% of adults in Washington County, Rhode Island earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 15% (about 1 in 7) in Rhode Island. 20% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 14% in Rhode Island.
Is unemployment high in Washington County, Rhode Island?
Unemployment in Washington County, Rhode Island is only 4.4%, well below the Rhode Island rate of 5.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington County, Rhode Island?
The Gini coefficient in Washington County is 0.525. 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 Washington County, Rhode Island?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Rhode Island has narrowed from about 26% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $378 since 2009.
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