1st Advantage MortgageIn Kent County, Rhode Island, the typical household earns $94,345 a year and the typical rent is $1,327. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Rhode Island license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Kent County
- Renting and owning in Kent County
- How much Kent County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Kent County
- Places inside Kent County
- Counties near Kent County
- Room for a loan payment in Kent County
- People and households in Kent County
- Borrowing situations common in Kent County
- Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
- Four steps for Kent County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Kent County
With an estimated 171,456 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kent County ranks 2nd of 5 in Rhode Island for population. Packed into 169 square miles, that is close to 1,017 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Warwick, with about 83,175 residents, or 49% of the county.
Renting and owning in Kent County
Renters in Kent County pay a median of $1,327 a month, in line with Rhode Island's $1,342. By the Census definition, 50% of Kent County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $366,100, about 3.9 times the median household income. 73% of Kent County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1967.
| Kent County | Rhode Island | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,327/mo | $1,342/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $366,100 | $404,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% | 0.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Kent County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Kent County households make
Half of Kent County households take in less than $94,345 a year and half take in more, 7% above the Rhode Island median of $87,796. That places it 4th among Rhode Island's 5 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Kent County | Difference from Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.0% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.8% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.9% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.2% | +1.3 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 47% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.5%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.2%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Kent County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Kent County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 11% for Rhode Island. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Kent County. About 78% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Kent County workers | vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Kent County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Kent County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Kent County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 172,418 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $177,090 at the median in East Greenwich, $77,608 in West Warwick. Rent is cheapest in Coventry ($1,206) and steepest in West Greenwich ($2,414). Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Kent County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick | city | 83,175 | $88,708 | $1,363 | 8 mi |
| Coventry | town | 35,907 | $102,946 | $1,206 | 5 mi |
| West Warwick | town | 31,173 | $77,608 | $1,303 | 3 mi |
| East Greenwich | town | 14,554 | $177,090 | $1,276 | 5 mi |
| West Greenwich | town | 6,647 | $135,625 | $2,414 | 5 mi |
| Greene | CDP | 962 | $129,583 | n/a | 8 mi |
Counties near Kent County
Providence County is closest, 13 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bristol County, is 26 miles off. Income ranges from $78,787 in Providence County to $114,490 in Bristol County; 3 of these neighbors top Kent County's median. The list crosses into Connecticut, Massachusetts, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | - | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Providence County, RI | 13 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Bristol County, RI | 15 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Washington County, RI | 19 mi | $106,638 | $1,327/mo | 78% |
| Newport County, RI | 20 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 23 mi | $90,589 | $1,155/mo | 77% |
| Bristol County, MA | 26 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
Room for a loan payment in Kent County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Kent County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Kent County: $7,862
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,327)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,503 left for all other debt payments
- $2,054: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Kent County's.
People and households in Kent County
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. 3.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Kent County | Rhode Island statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 40.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.7% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 10.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 11.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Kent County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Kent County
Based on the Kent County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidation math. With 47% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Kent County, check the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Rhode Island state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Kent County borrowers
Steps that save money for Kent County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Rhode Island license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Kent County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Kent County a high-income county?
Its $94,345 median ranks 4th of 5 Rhode Island counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Kent County?
$1,327 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Kent County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Kent County?
By population: Warwick, Coventry, West Warwick, East Greenwich, West Greenwich. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Will a Kent County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Rhode Island as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.