1st Advantage MortgageIn Newport County, Rhode Island, the typical household earns $103,514 a year and the typical rent is $1,713. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Newport County
- Work, industries and travel time in Newport County
- Income in Newport County compared with Rhode Island
- Housing costs in Newport County
- The counties around Newport County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Newport County
- Who lives in Newport County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Newport County
- A Newport County household budget, worked through
- Rhode Island rules that apply in Newport County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Newport County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Newport County's population at 84,657; only 3 of Rhode Island's 5 county-level areas are larger. It covers 102 square miles of land, or about 826 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Newport County, Newport leads by population with about 24,874; 5 of the 8 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Newport County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 70% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.3% of the total (9.1% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Newport County workers | vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.0% | -3.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Newport County compared with Rhode Island
Newport County households have a median income of $103,514 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 5 in Rhode Island.
| Band | Newport County | Compared with Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.2% | -4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.2% | -3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.0% | +2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.7% | +4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 52% of Newport County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.5% of Newport County residents in poverty, against 11.2% across Rhode Island. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Newport County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Newport County
A typical Newport County rental runs $1,713 a month including utilities, which is 28% above Rhode Island. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $609,700, about 5.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Home costs | Newport County | Rhode Island | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,713/mo | $1,342/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $609,700 | $404,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.0% | 0.9% | n/a |
The counties around Newport County
Six nearby counties, 14 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Dukes County leads the group on income ($125,786), Providence County trails ($78,787), and Newport County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Massachusetts, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport County | - | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Bristol County, RI | 14 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Washington County, RI | 19 mi | $106,638 | $1,327/mo | 78% |
| Kent County, RI | 20 mi | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Bristol County, MA | 20 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Providence County, RI | 30 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Dukes County, MA | 31 mi | $125,786 | $1,277/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Newport County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Newport County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 89,259 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $86,313 in Newport to $140,625 in Jamestown. Median rent ranges from $1,342 in Tiverton to $2,724 in Melville. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | city | 24,874 | $86,313 | $1,698 | 3 mi |
| Portsmouth | town | 17,644 | $117,467 | $1,719 | 6 mi |
| Middletown | town | 16,832 | $101,948 | $1,990 | 1 mi |
| Newport East | CDP | 11,069 | $89,028 | $1,876 | 1 mi |
| Tiverton | CDP | 8,091 | $99,158 | $1,342 | 11 mi |
| Jamestown | town | 5,534 | $140,625 | $1,629 | 5 mi |
| Little Compton | town | 3,584 | $134,750 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Melville | CDP | 1,631 | $102,266 | $2,724 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Who lives in Newport County, in numbers
College graduates make up 54% of the adult population. 3.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Newport County | Rhode Island | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 40.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 54.1% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.4% | 10.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Newport County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Newport County
What the Newport County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 46.9 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Consolidation math. With 52% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Newport County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Newport County household budget, worked through
Here is the Newport County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $103,514 a year is $8,626 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,713, takes 20% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,996 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Rhode Island rules that apply in Newport County
Newport County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Rhode Island state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Newport County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Newport County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Rhode Island.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Rhode Island guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Newport County household make?
About $103,514 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% above the Rhode Island median.
Is Newport County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,713 against $1,342 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Newport?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Newport County, such as Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport East.
Can Newport County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Rhode Island county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Newport County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Rhode Island it is the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.