Providence, Rhode Island Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Providence is a major urban center located in Rhode Island, within Providence County. The total population is 191,767. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island.

Age Demographics

The median age in Providence is 32.8 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 40.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Providence is $68,119. This is 22% lower than the state median of $87,796. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.7%. This is 86% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.2%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $362,200. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $404,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 41.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 63.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Providence is Hispanic or Latino, making up 45.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (33.1%) is well below the state average of 68.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (10.2% vs 4.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (45.3% vs 17.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.2% vs 3.5%).

Education

34.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% lower 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 82.1%. Notably, 16.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Providence, Rhode Island is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Rhode Island state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.