Rhode Island Income Statistics
Rhode Island Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Rhode Island Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Rhode Island
- Newport County (115% of U.S. avg)
- Bristol County (114% of U.S. avg)
- Washington County (113% of U.S. avg)
- Providence County (95% of U.S. avg)
- Kent County (112% of U.S. avg)
- Washington County (113% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rhode Island | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $88,093 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $66,452 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rhode Island is about 9% higher than in US. Income has been growing faster in Rhode Island (5.2%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 15% of adults in Rhode Island earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rhode Island grew by 57.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $88,093 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rhode Island
| Metric | Rhode Island | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $75,201 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $63,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 Rhode Island, it is 0.529, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Rhode Island. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $425,950 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rhode Island has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $912 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rhode Island | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 34,376 people are unemployed in Rhode Island.
The average commute time in Rhode Island is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rhode Island has fallen from 8.9% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2019.
Rhode Island Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Rhode Island is the 5th largest of the 6 states compared here, 1,100,398 residents against a local median of 3,347,044. Nothing separates Rhode Island sharply from the states 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, 12% above the local median at 5.8% against 5.1%. Rhode Island has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 1,100,398 | $88,093 #5/6 | 5.2%/yr #1/6 | 5.8% #5/6 | 0.529 #3/6 |
| Massachusetts | 7,031,620 | $104,336 | 4.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.531 |
| Connecticut | 3,347,044 | $97,098 | 3.7%/yr | 5.5% | 0.536 |
| New Hampshire | 1,394,471 | $99,079 | 4.7%/yr | 3.3% | 0.508 |
| Vermont | 646,793 | $81,508 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.506 |
| New Jersey | 9,334,304 | $103,817 | 4.4%/yr | 6.3% | 0.544 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rhode Island has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rhode Island.
How Rich Is Rhode Island?
Rhode Island 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 $88,093, about 9% higher than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in Rhode Island?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rhode Island rose 57%, from $55,954 to $88,093. Over the same years, income here kept pace with the U.S. as a whole: +57% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Rhode Island in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rhode Island was $86,472, up 6% from $81,673 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Rhode Island in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rhode Island was $70,378. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $88,093.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rhode Island?
The Gini coefficient in Rhode Island is 0.529. 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 Rhode Island?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rhode Island has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $912 since 2009.
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