Providence County, Rhode Island Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Providence County is located in Rhode Island with a total population of 658,977. It is the 1st most populous county out of 5 in Rhode Island. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Providence County is 37.9 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 40.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Providence County is $78,204. This is 9% lower than the state median of $86,372. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $339,100. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $368,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 63.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Providence County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.9%.

Education

32.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 37.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.3%.