1st Advantage MortgageThe median Washington County household earns $106,638, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Washington County
- The Washington County job picture
- What Washington County households earn
- What it costs to live in Washington County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
- Counties near Washington County
- Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
- Before borrowing in Washington County
- More Washington County figures
- A Washington County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Washington County
Roughly 130,344 residents live in Washington County, Rhode Island, 3rd by population among the state's 5 counties and county equivalents. It covers 329 square miles of land, or about 396 people per square mile. 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. South Kingstown is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 32,073 people (25% of the county total).
The Washington County job picture
The biggest employer of Washington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Washington County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.4% of the total (9.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Washington County | Difference from Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Washington County households earn
Half of Washington County households take in less than $106,638 a year and half take in more, 21% above the Rhode Island median of $87,796. In the state ranking that is 2nd of 5.
| Household income | Washington County | vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.0% | -4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 29.7% | -5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.1% | +3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.2% | +6.4 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 54% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.2% of Washington County residents in poverty, against 11.2% across Rhode Island. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. For a borrower in Washington 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.
What it costs to live in Washington County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,327 in Washington County versus $1,342 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $510,800, a typical Washington County house costs 4.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Washington County | Rhode Island | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,327/mo | $1,342/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $510,800 | $404,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Washington 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
The table lists the 14 largest of 21 Census places in Washington County, by population. Together all 21 hold about 139,057 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $140,196 at the median in Carolina, $82,192 in Narragansett Pier. Median rent ranges from $1,159 in Charlestown to $1,712 in Narragansett. No Washington County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 21.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Kingstown | town | 32,073 | $108,960 | $1,368 | 4 mi |
| North Kingstown | town | 27,859 | $126,293 | $1,268 | 15 mi |
| Westerly | CDP | 18,411 | $95,207 | $1,260 | 10 mi |
| Narragansett | town | 14,494 | $95,721 | $1,712 | 7 mi |
| Wakefield-Peace Dale | CDP | 9,302 | $106,551 | $1,258 | 7 mi |
| Richmond | town | 8,142 | $124,653 | $1,580 | 7 mi |
| Kingston | CDP | 7,332 | $107,404 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Exeter | town | 7,195 | $111,250 | $1,317 | 12 mi |
| Narragansett Pier | CDP | 3,167 | $82,192 | $1,649 | 8 mi |
| Hope Valley | CDP | 2,297 | $101,932 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Ashaway | CDP | 1,722 | $103,707 | $1,604 | 9 mi |
| Bradford | CDP | 1,511 | $120,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Charlestown | CDP | 1,499 | $108,563 | $1,159 | 1 mi |
| Carolina | CDP | 1,048 | $140,196 | n/a | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Washington County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 36 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Washington County; Bristol County is highest at $114,490 and Providence County lowest at $78,787. Some neighbors are in Connecticut. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Washington County resident follows Rhode Island rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $106,638 | $1,327/mo | 78% |
| Newport County, RI | 19 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Kent County, RI | 19 mi | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 26 mi | $86,586 | $1,365/mo | 65% |
| Bristol County, RI | 28 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Providence County, RI | 33 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 36 mi | $90,589 | $1,155/mo | 77% |
Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
Washington County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Washington County: $8,886
- Rent at the median, $1,327, takes 15% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,494 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Washington County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Washington County
Based on the Washington County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Older households. A 45.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Higher earners. 54% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Washington County figures
Degree holders: 52% of adults over 25. About 2% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Washington County | Rhode Island | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 40.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 52.4% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 10.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.0% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 11.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
A Washington County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Washington County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Rhode Island.
- Ask a Washington County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Washington County borrowers answers to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Rhode Island guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Rhode Island guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington County a high-income county?
Its $106,638 median ranks 2nd of 5 Rhode Island counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Washington County?
$1,327 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Washington County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Washington County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Washington County?
By population: South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Westerly, Narragansett, Wakefield-Peace Dale. The county has 21 Census places in all.
Will a Washington 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.