Rhode Island State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

The region has a pretty high population density for its size. It is a decent option for families looking for a place to call home for years to come, thanks to its ratio of residents to the general living area.

The people here make a modest income, but they can still afford a decent living. Given its location, fishing is a huge industry here. Other popular sectors include healthcare-related jobs, tourism, manufacturing, and banking. The sales tax is 7%, and the property tax is 1.53%, which is above the national figure.

Home values are on the rise and have increased over 11% in the past year. The average rent is about $2,000 a month, so it’s not the cheapest place to live in. Towns like Narragansett Pier and Newport are neighborhoods with some of the highest rents.

While unemployment is a problem throughout the United States, the state population overall has better job stability. The Rhode Island unemployment rate increased by 0.7% in early 2021, to 7.9%. However, a lack of work remains a struggle for Black and Native American residents, and men are likely to out-earn women.

It is an abysmal situation here, with nearly 12% of residents living below the poverty line. That’s over 125,000 people, and women are more likely to suffer from poverty than men. Living conditions are worse for Hispanics and Native Americans, while whites have some of the best outcomes, on average.

About a third of residents have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and 98% have completed high school. Asians have the highest percentage of higher education degrees, at 52%. Despite its small size, the state has 13 institutes of higher learning. Compared to other states in the United States, it ranks quite highly with one of the largest percentages of college-educated residents.

Over 4% of the population is uninsured, and 54% receive coverage through their employer. Over 20% of residents are under Medicaid. This place has some of the best behavioral health outcomes and services in the entire country. On average, white citizens are more likely to have insurance. Rates of uninsured are the highest among Hispanics and 18-34-year-olds.

Larceny-theft and property crimes are the most common instances here. There is a lower rate of murder compared to surrounding states. However, violent crime is quite prevalent, especially considering the overall size of the state. The areas with a minor crime include Glocester, Scituate, Jamestown, and Portsmouth. As for gun laws, each town may give out carry licenses on a shall-issue basis.

It has an excellent drinking water score, with just 94 violations, which is among the best in the nation. The air quality is quite good, thanks to the coastal air. The largest number of problems occur in the hazardous waste category, probably because healthcare jobs are typical. Compared to other states in the United States, it’s in a pretty good spot overall.

Nearly a quarter of the streets here are in bad shape, including those in Providence, and over one-fifth of the bridges are structurally dangerous. This, unfortunately, places RI at the bottom of the national list. Residents pay quite a bit in government taxes for road work and infrastructure, and they also spend about 25 minutes commuting to work each day.