Rhode Island · GEOID 44009

Washington County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 130,344 · 66,385 housing units

Median household income

$106,638

State $88,358

Median home value

$510,800

State $420,299

Median gross rent

$1,327

State $1,352

Homeownership rate

77.5%

State 63.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

51.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

23.5%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

20.8%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.79

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Washington County	Rhode Island
Population	130,344	1,101,801
Population density (per sq. mi.)	395.85	—
Median household income	$106,638	$88,358
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$112,100	—
Households	52,549	—
Average household size	2.34 people	—
Owner-occupied	77.5%	63.6%
Renter-occupied	22.5%	36.4%
Race	89.6% White · 1.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Washington County compared with Rhode Island.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

52.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 37.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.2%	$84,730	$2,118	$284,374
1 earner	26.3%	$99,821	$2,496	$340,548
2 earners	44.4%	$158,086	$3,952	$557,430
3+ earners	12.1%	$204,443	$5,111	$729,987

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

52,549

Average size: 2.34 people

Households with children

10,783

20.5% of households

Per-capita income

$56,069

Poverty rate: 9.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

77.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 63.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 80.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 14.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

52.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,977.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $510,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,327.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 13,836 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.0% · For rent 4.4% · Seasonal 79.2% · Other 11.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

9.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 90.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

16.5%

10,957 units of 66,385 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.4%

1,609 units of 66,385 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$85,310

100% MHI$106,638

120% MHI$127,966

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Washington County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$62,800	$71,800	$89,700
100% AMI	$78,470	$89,680	$112,100
120% AMI	$94,150	$107,600	$134,500

HUD FMR Area: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

51.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (28.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

23.5% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Washington County.

Covered employment

53,218

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

5,734

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$61,299

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	11,815	$75,843	$251,294	−$259,506	$1,896
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	7,511	$55,979	$177,353	−$333,447	$1,399
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	7,105	$31,359	$85,709	−$425,091	$784
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	6,609	$40,542	$119,892	−$390,908	$1,014
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,912	$80,469	$268,513	−$242,287	$2,012
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	2,267	$56,694	$180,015	−$330,785	$1,417
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	2,110	$102,514	$350,572	−$160,228	$2,563
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,984	$79,990	$266,730	−$244,070	$2,000
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	1,924	$35,518	$101,191	−$409,609	$888
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,780	$42,670	$127,813	−$382,987	$1,067
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,696	$56,372	$178,816	−$331,984	$1,409
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	1,491	$103,077	$352,668	−$158,132	$2,577
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	1,113	$99,929	$340,950	−$169,850	$2,498
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	881	$49,018	$151,442	−$359,358	$1,225
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	748	$43,345	$130,325	−$380,475	$1,084
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	701	$94,532	$320,861	−$189,939	$2,363
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	465	$122,507	$424,993	−$85,807	$3,063
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	105	$127,459	$443,426	−$67,374	$3,186
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	1	$30,761	$83,483	−$427,317	$769

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	6,153	$28,807	$76,210	−$434,590	$720
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	2,260	$71,673	$235,772	−$275,028	$1,792
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	2,110	$102,514	$350,572	−$160,228	$2,563
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2,052	$55,408	$175,228	−$335,572	$1,385
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,869	$34,370	$96,917	−$413,883	$859
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,851	$48,063	$147,887	−$362,913	$1,202
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,767	$83,351	$279,241	−$231,559	$2,084
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,517	$35,947	$102,787	−$408,013	$899
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,219	$27,340	$70,749	−$440,051	$684
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,143	$57,214	$181,950	−$328,850	$1,430
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	968	$51,371	$160,201	−$350,599	$1,284
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	952	$47,852	$147,102	−$363,698	$1,196
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	806	$106,468	$365,291	−$145,509	$2,662
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	799	$75,325	$249,366	−$261,434	$1,883
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	786	$44,958	$136,329	−$374,471	$1,124
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	748	$43,345	$130,325	−$380,475	$1,084
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	701	$94,532	$320,861	−$189,939	$2,363
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	696	$32,325	$89,305	−$421,495	$808
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	696	$70,399	$231,029	−$279,771	$1,760
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	628	$89,988	$303,946	−$206,854	$2,250
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	628	$69,911	$229,213	−$281,587	$1,748
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	612	$83,997	$281,646	−$229,154	$2,100
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	608	$45,911	$139,877	−$370,923	$1,148
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	599	$53,014	$166,317	−$344,483	$1,325
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	576	$28,785	$76,128	−$434,672	$720
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	520	$37,128	$107,184	−$403,616	$928
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	492	$79,920	$266,470	−$244,330	$1,998
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	489	$93,216	$315,962	−$194,838	$2,330
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	488	$88,927	$299,997	−$210,803	$2,223
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	455	$106,413	$365,086	−$145,714	$2,660
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	388	$57,117	$181,589	−$329,211	$1,428
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	346	$77,628	$257,938	−$252,862	$1,941
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	323	$47,535	$145,922	−$364,878	$1,188
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	271	$49,865	$154,595	−$356,205	$1,247
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	258	$65,107	$211,331	−$299,469	$1,628
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	248	$76,745	$254,651	−$256,149	$1,919
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	235	$53,245	$167,176	−$343,624	$1,331
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	215	$68,968	$225,703	−$285,097	$1,724
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	214	$79,898	$266,388	−$244,412	$1,997
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	213	$102,101	$349,035	−$161,765	$2,553
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	197	$124,253	$431,492	−$79,308	$3,106
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	188	$58,537	$186,875	−$323,925	$1,463
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	174	$70,607	$231,804	−$278,996	$1,765
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	168	$52,414	$164,083	−$346,717	$1,310
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	167	$41,303	$122,724	−$388,076	$1,033
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	166	$75,875	$251,413	−$259,387	$1,897
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	162	$133,132	$464,543	−$46,257	$3,328
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	150	$97,191	$330,758	−$180,042	$2,430
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	148	$74,125	$244,899	−$265,901	$1,853
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	138	$82,458	$275,917	−$234,883	$2,061
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	135	$106,988	$367,226	−$143,574	$2,675
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	118	$39,000	$114,152	−$396,648	$975
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	110	$41,132	$122,088	−$388,712	$1,028
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	105	$127,459	$443,426	−$67,374	$3,186
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	88	$215,593	$771,491	+$260,691	$5,390
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	88	$38,397	$111,907	−$398,893	$960
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	84	$37,954	$110,258	−$400,542	$949
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	80	$108,871	$374,235	−$136,565	$2,722
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	77	$66,115	$215,083	−$295,717	$1,653
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	77	$145,434	$510,335	−$465	$3,636
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	76	$35,139	$99,780	−$411,020	$878
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	66	$62,769	$202,628	−$308,172	$1,569
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	45	$49,174	$152,023	−$358,777	$1,229
NAICS 114 Fishing, hunting and trapping NAICS 114	36	$137,712	$481,591	−$29,209	$3,443
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	24	$53,908	$169,644	−$341,156	$1,348
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	15	$56,856	$180,618	−$330,182	$1,421
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	12	$124,565	$432,654	−$78,146	$3,114
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	1	$30,761	$83,483	−$427,317	$769

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	21,530	—	—	$16.38	$34,070	$95,801	$852
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	14,440	—	—	$17.30	$35,990	$102,947	$900
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	2,880	—	—	$18.08	$37,600	$108,940	$940
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	20,910	—	—	$18.15	$37,760	$109,536	$944
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	9,660	—	—	$19.82	$41,230	$122,453	$1,031
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	13,600	—	—	$20.39	$42,400	$126,808	$1,060
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,280	—	—	$22.11	$45,980	$140,134	$1,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	13,030	—	—	$22.13	$46,020	$140,283	$1,151
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	10,690	—	—	$23.79	$49,480	$153,162	$1,237
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	6,370	—	—	$26.02	$54,110	$170,396	$1,353
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	7,030	—	—	$28.98	$60,270	$193,326	$1,507
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	3,240	—	—	$30.25	$62,920	$203,190	$1,573
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	2,550	—	—	$31.94	$66,440	$216,293	$1,661
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	380	—	—	$32.03	$66,630	$217,000	$1,666
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	4,140	—	—	$33.18	$69,020	$225,896	$1,726
Electricians SOC 47-2111	3,560	—	—	$35.14	$73,080	$241,009	$1,827
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	3,120	—	—	$38.22	$79,490	$264,869	$1,987
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	6,280	—	—	—	$80,350	$268,070	$2,009
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	3,000	—	—	$39.42	$82,000	$274,212	$2,050
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	15,180	—	—	$49.06	$102,040	$348,808	$2,551

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 44009 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.