Washington County, Rhode Island Demographics 2026

Name: Washington County, Rhode Island Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Washington County, Rhode Island has a population of 130,344, the 3rd most populous county in Rhode Island. The median household income is $106,638 and the median home value is $510,800. The poverty rate is 8.2%.

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

Washington County Quick Facts

Population 130,344

Median Household Income $106,638

Median Home Value $510,800

Poverty Rate 8.2%

Unemployment Rate 4.4%

Median Age 45.5 years

Homeownership Rate 77.5%

Affordability Ratio 4.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 52.4%

High School Graduation 95.7%

Cities/Places 15

Population 130,344 3rd of 5

Median Income $106,638 21% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.2%

Unemployment 4.4%

How Washington County Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	130,073	130,344	+0.2%
Median household income	$102,478	$106,638	+4.1%
Median home value	$469,800	$510,800	+8.7%

Median Household Income

Washington

$106,638

$87,796

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Washington

$510,800

$404,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.6%

$25K-$50K 9.6%

$50K-$100K 24.5%

$100K+ 54.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.2%

$10K-$15K

2.1%

$15K-$20K

2.7%

$20K-$25K

2.6%

$25K-$30K

2.7%

$30K-$35K

1.7%

$35K-$40K

1.5%

$40K-$45K

1.8%

$45K-$50K

1.9%

$50K-$60K

4.8%

$60K-$75K

8.2%

$75K-$100K

11.6%

$100K-$125K

12.0%

$125K-$150K

9.0%

$150K-$200K

13.1%

$200K+

20.2%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

61.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.5%

Renter 22.5%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,327/mo 14.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.4%

18-34

24.2%

35-54

21.1%

55-74

29.9%

75+

9.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 50 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Washington County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Westerly	18,411	$95,207	5.7%	$448,800
Wakefield-Peace Dale	9,302	$106,551	9.5%	$494,400
Kingston	7,332	$107,404	1.8%	$553,400
Narragansett Pier	3,167	$82,192	13.6%	$851,300
Hope Valley	2,297	$101,932	9.2%	$447,500
Ashaway	1,722	$103,707	1.4%	$343,600
Bradford	1,511	$120,250	2.3%	$418,100
Charlestown	1,499	$108,563	4.2%	$583,200
Carolina	1,048	$140,196	5.6%	$396,400
Quonochontaug	610	$86,071	5.3%	$1,043,900
Weekapaug	541	$137,917	5.7%	$1,252,700
Misquamicut	348	$109,643	10.9%	$815,900
Wyoming	320	N/A	0.0%	$351,600
Hopkinton	206	$21,274	12.1%	$273,400
Watch Hill	203	$168,750	12.3%	$2,000,000+

Explore Rhode Island Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Washington County is located in Rhode Island with a total population of 130,344. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 5 in Rhode Island. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 45.5 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 40.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington County is $106,638. This is 21% higher than the state median of $87,796. It is also 32% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $510,800. Housing costs are 26% higher than the state median of $404,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 63.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Washington County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 4.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 17.7%.

Education

52.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 95.7%. Notably, 23.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Washington 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 Washington County, Rhode Island?

Washington County has a population of 130,344, making it the 3rd most populous county in Rhode Island.

What is the median income in Washington County?

The median household income in Washington County is $106,638 with a poverty rate of 8.2%.

How many cities are in Washington County, Rhode Island?

Washington County contains 15 Census-designated places.