1st Advantage MortgageThe median Providence County household earns $78,787, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Rhode Island before sharing details.
On this page
- Providence County, RI: the basics
- Income in Providence County compared with Rhode Island
- Housing costs in Providence County
- Employment and commuting in Providence County
- The counties around Providence County
- Providence County towns compared
- More Providence County figures
- Before borrowing in Providence County
- What a median Providence County budget can carry
- Rhode Island rules that apply in Providence County
- Steps before you apply in Providence County
- More guides for Providence County
- Frequently asked questions
Providence County, RI: the basics
With an estimated 664,854 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Providence County ranks 1st of 5 in Rhode Island for population. It covers 409 square miles of land, or about 1,624 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (16 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Providence, with about 191,767 residents, or 29% of the county.
Income in Providence County compared with Rhode Island
At $78,787, the typical Providence County household income is 20% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 5th of 5.
| Yearly household income | Providence County | Gap to Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -3.1 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.4%, 2 points higher than the state's 11.2%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Providence County
A typical Providence County rental runs $1,312 a month including utilities, which is 2% below Rhode Island. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $373,600, or 4.7 years of median income. 57% of Providence County households own their home and 43% rent. Median construction year: 1956.
| Home costs | Providence County | Rhode Island | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,312/mo | $1,342/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $373,600 | $404,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 0.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Providence County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 71% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 11.5% of the total (9.1% statewide).
| Sector | Providence County | Compared with Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Providence County
Distances run center to center, from Kent County at 13 miles out to Newport County at 30. Norfolk County leads the group on income ($130,739), Bristol County trails ($85,625), and Providence County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Providence County resident follows Rhode Island rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | - | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Kent County, RI | 13 mi | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Bristol County, RI | 19 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 20 mi | $90,589 | $1,155/mo | 77% |
| Bristol County, MA | 27 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 29 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
| Newport County, RI | 30 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
Providence County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Providence County residents live in one of the 25. Incomes vary by place: $130,506 at the median in Cumberland Hill, $49,285 in Central Falls. Median rent ranges from $936 in Chepachet to $1,509 in Foster. Names with links open a city guide. The other 24 places are covered here.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | city | 191,767 | $68,119 | $1,408 | 9 mi |
| Cranston | city | 83,250 | $90,206 | $1,375 | 8 mi |
| Pawtucket | city | 75,893 | $68,310 | $1,208 | 11 mi |
| East Providence | city | 47,281 | $75,912 | $1,288 | 12 mi |
| Woonsocket | city | 43,521 | $61,059 | $1,161 | 10 mi |
| Cumberland | town | 36,820 | $117,522 | $1,379 | 11 mi |
| North Providence | town | 34,293 | $83,756 | $1,405 | 6 mi |
| Johnston | town | 29,835 | $91,866 | $1,275 | 4 mi |
| Lincoln | town | 22,864 | $104,821 | $1,468 | 7 mi |
| Central Falls | city | 22,701 | $49,285 | $1,200 | 10 mi |
| Smithfield | town | 22,233 | $102,077 | $1,016 | 3 mi |
| Burrillville | town | 16,427 | $119,813 | $1,206 | 9 mi |
| North Smithfield | town | 12,708 | $108,866 | $1,282 | 7 mi |
| Valley Falls | CDP | 12,657 | $92,901 | $1,362 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
More Providence County figures
32% of Providence County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Providence County | Rhode Island | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.3% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | 10.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.5% | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 11.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Before borrowing in Providence County
Where the Providence County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
What a median Providence County budget can carry
Here is the Providence County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $6,566 gross per month ($78,787 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,312 uses 20%
- Under a 35% cap, $2,298 total minus rent leaves $986
- Under a 45% cap, $2,955 total minus rent leaves $1,643
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 Providence County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Providence County, check the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Rhode Island guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Providence County
A short checklist for Providence County borrowers:
- Price the Providence County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Providence County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Providence County
City guides inside Providence County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Providence County household make?
About $78,787 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Rhode Island median.
What do renters pay in Providence County?
$1,312 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Providence?
Yes, along with the other 24 Census places in Providence County, such as Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence.
Does living in Providence County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Providence County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Providence County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Rhode Island it is the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.