Washington County, Rhode Island Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Washington County is located in Rhode Island with a total population of 130,073. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 5 in Rhode Island.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 45.3 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 40.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington County is $102,478. This is 19% higher than the state median of $86,372. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $469,800. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $368,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 63.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Washington County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 17.1%.

Education

50.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% higher 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 95.3%. Notably, 22.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.