In Providence County, Rhode Island, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Providence County, 30.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 65% of U.S. counties.
What drives Providence County's score
In Providence County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 85.3. Late payments on loans come next, at 59.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Providence County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Providence County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (5.4%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($73,462, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 85.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.1% · 2020 to 202473rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income30.7% · fiscal year 202797th percentile
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- 59.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.7% · August 202568th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.0% · August 202562nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.7% · second quarter of 202648th percentile
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- 57.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202670th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.9% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
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- 50.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.2% · August 202553rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people120.2 · 202546th percentile
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- 43.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.8% · 202463rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.5% · 202462nd percentile
- People with a disability14.4% · 2020 to 202434th percentile
- People without health insurance5.4% · 2020 to 202424th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,462 · 202432nd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Providence County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Providence County, 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Providence County
Rhode Island
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Providence County rose most in two steps: 15.3% in 1989 to 20.2% in 1994; 20.1% in 2004 to 25.0% in 2009.
In Providence County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 23.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Providence County, Rhode Island, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Providence County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 12.2% in 2010 to 14.4% in 2011.
The share of households in Providence County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 17.8%
Low on the chart: 10.1% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Providence County, Rhode Island.
How Providence County has changed
Providence County's population rose 18% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1999 to 2004, reaching 638,358. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Providence County, Rhode Island.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Providence County rose 4% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2020 and 2025
High on the chart: 290,835 in 2025. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Providence County, Rhode Island.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 4.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.1% | 2024 14.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,985 | 2024 $73,462 |
The table uses 4.9% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Providence County's history
1703
Constituted June 22, 1703, as County of Providence Plantations with five towns: Providence, Warwick, Westerly, Kingstown, Greenwich. Wikipedia
1922
1922 New England Textile Strike affected Providence, shutting down mills. Wikipedia
1925
Manufacturing began to shut down beginning in mid-1920s. Wikipedia
1938
New England Hurricane of 1938 flooded downtown Providence and destroyed textile mills. Wikipedia
1940
Great Migration and white middle class exodus 1940-1970. Wikipedia
1986
A tornado in August 1986 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flood in March 2010 did $26.64 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flash flood in September 2013 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 660,741, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A flash flood in September 2022 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1978
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Providence County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Providence County beside its neighbors
Providence County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. For the share of income from benefit checks, Providence County ranks 2nd of the seven; Bristol County is highest, at 23.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County, RI | 65 | 14.8% | 23.1% |
| Bristol County, MA | 51 | 10.2% | 23.3% |
| Worcester County, MA | 37 | 9.6% | 18.8% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 35 | 7.7% | 21.8% |
| Kent County, RI | 31 | 7.8% | 19.8% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 15 | 6.4% | 9.5% |
| Bristol County, RI | 7 | 6.7% | 13.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Providence County the poorest county in Rhode Island?
Yes, Providence County's poverty rate was 14.8% in 2024, the highest of 5 counties in Rhode Island (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Providence County ranks 1st of 5 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Providence County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Rhode Island Housing Help Center
HUD-approved housing counselor
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West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Rhode Island Legal Services (RILS)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Providence County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Providence County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.