Rhode Islandincome tax up to 5.99%, 14th highest property tax, median home $430K

D+17 · High tax burden · COL index 114

C+

5.99%

Income Tax

237

Violent Crime / 100K

78.1

Life Expectancy

$430K

Median Home

$1,750

Childcare / Mo

Rhode Island in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a graduated income tax reaching 5.99%, an estate tax with an exemption below $2 million, and taxes Social Security above income thresholds. The whole state is within an hour's drive, and Providence commuters reach Boston by train in under an hour. Home prices rose faster than most of New England after 2020; coastal flood exposure is significant.

What Rhode Island taxes, and what it doesn't

Rhode Island levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 5.99%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 3.8%, about $2,881 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 4.3%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Rhode Island has the 9th lowest effective rate at $100,000 of income.

Property tax runs 1.30% of home value a year, roughly $5,590 on the state's median home of $430K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Rhode Island has the 14th highest rate of the 50 states.

Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.00%, the 25th lowest in the country (the state portion is 7%).

For retirees: Rhode Island is one of the few states that taxes Social Security benefits, pension income is partly exempt, and an estate tax applies above $1.77 million.

Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.

Housing and the cost of living in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's cost of living index is 114, where 100 is the national average; that is the 11th most expensive of the 50 states.

The median home costs $430K, 42% above the national figure and the 12th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,800 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,400 a year, flood coverage adds about $900 where it is needed, car insurance runs $2,100.

Budget $195 a month for electricity and gas, $610 a month in groceries for two, $1,750 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 237 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Rhode Island is the 10th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,527 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 78.1 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 4.7% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Rhode Island's health system 4th of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 13th in the country.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, Rhode Island is a solidly Democratic state that went to Harris by 17 points in 2024.

On guns, concealed-carry permits are may-issue, at the discretion of local authorities, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws B.

Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Rhode Island is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $14.00 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are hurricane, nor-easter, flood. Annual average air quality index is 32 (under 50 is good).

Rhode Island has no top-25 hub airport, with about 40 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

Largest counties in Rhode Island

Providence County Kent County Washington County Newport County Bristol County All Rhode Island counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

73/100

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Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

5.99% top

Property Tax

~$5,590/yr on median home

1.3% / yr

Sales Tax

7% avg

Social Security

Taxed

Pension / IRA

Partial

Estate Tax

Yes — $1.77M exemption

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

▾

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Near US average (100)

102.3

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.9%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

114

Median Home Price

$430,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,800/mo

Home Insurance

Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$1,400/yr

Flood Insurance

$900/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$500,000

Asset Protection

Strong

Homes in HOAs

HOAs are rare here (Census ACS 2024)

9.9%

Zoning Restrictiveness

Among the most restrictive zoning in the nation (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Very Restrictive

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

Statewide DBR registration for platform-listed STRs (expanded Jan 2026).

State-Regulated

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

237 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

1,527 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

7.8 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)

204 / 100K

Homeless Population

High homelessness rate — 22% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

220 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

Top tier

#4 of 50

Life Expectancy

78.1 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

Well below national avg

4.7%

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

70%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$52,288/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

#13 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

HS Graduation Rate

Near national avg (~87%)

85.0%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

13.1 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,750/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Near US average (~820)

811 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$195/mo

Electricity Rate

Well above national avg (13¢)

22.0¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 10% renewable · ☀ 5% solar · 💨 3% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$610/mo

Road Quality Rank

Among the worst roads in the US

#50 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

40+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Highly urban — big city feel

91% urban

Restaurant Density

520/100K

Religious Congregations

170/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

2 venues

Craft Breweries

4.6/100K residents — Strong scene

50 breweries

Craft Distilleries

18 distilleries

Live Music

Providence arts district; Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals (legendary); Narragansett brewing heritage

Strong

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$2,100

Traffic Fatality Rate

7.8 / 100K

Broadband Access

91% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

52,149 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

18.5%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

46.3%

Abortion Access

Legal to viability; state law codified

Protected

LGBTQ+ Protections

Comprehensive

Marijuana

Recreational

Minimum Wage

$14/hr

Right to Work

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

Commercial casinos

Online Gambling

Legal

State Lottery

Twin River/Bally's Twin River are state-operated casinos. Online casino gambling legal. Sports betting at casinos and online.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

Sex ed required by state

Comprehensive

Medically Accurate Required

Yes

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Ocean State Naturists · Newport area informal beaches

One club

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

hurricanenor-easterflood

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

D+17

Gun Laws

Gun ControlB

2A LibertyD

Carry Permit

May-issue

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

No state prohibition; posting governs.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Tight labor market (US ~4.5%)

5.2%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

2.1%

Job Market

+1% job growth · 4.2% unemployment

Moderate

Top Industries

HealthcareFinanceEducation

Tech Jobs

#21 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#7 of 50

Remote Work

22% of workers

Median Household Income

$81,370

Union Membership

Among the most unionized states (BLS 2025)

16.1% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

LLC Formation Fee

$150 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

$50/yr

Business Climate Rank

#38 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Above avg (+0.06 vs national avg)

$3.36/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Limited consumer fireworks; Providence bans all

Restricted

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 21 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 36°F

Moderate

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

82°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

47" / yr

Tornado Risk

Very Low

Hurricane Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

Very Low

Flood Risk

Moderate

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

20LOW danger

EEE zoneLyme diseaseHurricane coastal exposure

Venomous Snakes

Minimal

Spider Hazard

Low

Hurricane Risk

Moderate

Tornado Risk

Minimal

Wildfire Risk

Minimal

Earthquake Risk

Low

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

6.1% of state population are veterans

49/100

Property Tax Exemption

Veteran property tax exemption

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Taxed

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

Military retirement exempt up to $15,000

Explore Rhode Island counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in Rhode Island

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

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Compare Similar States

RI vs CT

Rhode Island vs Connecticut

COL 114 vs 114 · 5.99% vs 6.99% income tax

Full comparison →

RI vs NH

Rhode Island vs New Hampshire

COL 114 vs 114 · 5.99% vs No income tax

Full comparison →

RI vs MD

Rhode Island vs Maryland

COL 114 vs 116 · 5.99% vs 5.75% income tax

Full comparison →

RI vs VT

Rhode Island vs Vermont

COL 114 vs 111 · 5.99% vs 8.75% income tax

Full comparison →

Trending in Rhode Island

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Rhode Island will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Rhode Island changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.