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Newport County, Rhode Island Demographics 2026

Newport County, Rhode Island has a population of 84,657, the 4th most populous county in Rhode Island. The median household income is $103,514 and the median home value is $609,700. The poverty rate is 8.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Newport County Quick Facts

Population 84,657
Median Household Income $103,514
Median Home Value $609,700
Poverty Rate 8.5%
Unemployment Rate 5.8%
Median Age 46.9 years
Homeownership Rate 67.9%
Affordability Ratio 5.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 54.1%
High School Graduation 95.6%
Cities/Places 4
Population 84,657 4th of 5
Median Income $103,514 18% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.5%
Unemployment 5.8%

How Newport County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population85,09584,657-0.5%
Median household income$100,859$103,514+2.6%
Median home value$559,700$609,700+8.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.8%
$25K-$50K 11.3%
$50K-$100K 25.3%
$100K+ 51.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.5%
$10K-$15K
3.3%
$15K-$20K
2.7%
$20K-$25K
2.3%
$25K-$30K
2.1%
$30K-$35K
2.3%
$35K-$40K
2.6%
$40K-$45K
2.1%
$45K-$50K
2.2%
$50K-$60K
5.6%
$60K-$75K
7.1%
$75K-$100K
12.6%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
9.3%
$150K-$200K
13.3%
$200K+
18.7%

Employment

5.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
64.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.9%
Renter 32.1%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,713/mo 19.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

31out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 50 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Newport County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Newport24,874$86,31316.5%$746,900
Newport East11,069$89,02811.7%$485,400
Tiverton8,091$99,1584.4%$407,200
Melville1,631$102,2661.6%N/A

Population Overview

Newport County is located in Rhode Island with a total population of 84,657. It is the 4th most populous county out of 5 in Rhode Island. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Newport County is 46.9 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.6 years. 11.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Newport County is $103,514. This is 18% higher than the state median of $87,796. It is also 28% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.5%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. The median home value is $609,700. Housing costs are 51% higher than the state median of $404,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 63.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Newport County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 17.7%. The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 3.5%.

Education

54.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 37.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.6%. Notably, 22.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Newport County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Rhode Island and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Newport County, Rhode Island?

Newport County has a population of 84,657, making it the 4th most populous county in Rhode Island.

What is the median income in Newport County?

The median household income in Newport County is $103,514 with a poverty rate of 8.5%.

How many cities are in Newport County, Rhode Island?

Newport County contains 4 Census-designated places.