Department of Numbers

Housing Units, Population and Cost Rank Measures for Rhode Island

Here we explore the evolution and dynamics of the housing supply in Rhode Island, the relative cost of Rhode Island housing, the housing mix and the change in Rhode Island population. Housing supply here is defined as the number of housing units (i.e: houses, condos, apartments etc..). For this analysis, the Rhode Island population number we're most interested in is the 18 and over population since the under 18 population typically isn't a buyer or renter in the housing market. All data on this page comes from the Census ACS 1 year survey. Jump to Rhode Island sections: housing units, housing cost, housing mix, population.

Housing Units and 18+ Population for Rhode Island

The data below track the total number of housing units in Rhode Island, the total 18 and over population in Rhode Island and the ratio of the 18 and over Rhode Island population to the number of housing units. Over the past 5 years, the number of Rhode Island housing units increased by 1.63% while the 18 and over population increased by 1.56%. As a result, the ratio of the 18 and over population to housing units decreased from 1.821 to 1.820. A lower population to housing units ratio means there are more housing units available per person in the region.

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Rhode Island Housing Units 470,177 +0.22% +1.63%
Rhode Island 18+ Population 855,786 +0.28% +1.56%
Rhode Island 18+ Pop. / Units 1.820 +0.001 -0.001

Rhode Island 18+ Population to Units Ratio Trends: Rhode Island, US

Rhode Island Housing Units and 18+ Population History

Date Rhode Island Housing Units Rhode Island 18+ Population Rhode Island 18+ Pop. / Units
2019 470,177 855,786 1.820
2018 469,153 853,407 1.819
2017 468,266 852,667 1.821
2016 462,598 847,786 1.833
2015 462,555 844,423 1.826
2014 462,630 842,618 1.821
2013 461,658 838,664 1.817
2012 462,618 833,330 1.801
2011 464,741 832,228 1.791
2010 463,416 828,863 1.789
2009 452,180 826,446 1.828
2008 451,770 822,287 1.820

more history ...

Rhode Island Relative Housing Cost Percentile by Price and Rent

This data shows where Rhode Island falls in the distribution of home prices and rent compared to other states (and D.C.). The higher the percentile, the more expensive the region is compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, Rhode Island was at the 74.51% percentile for home prices and the 58.82% percentile for the cost of rent. Over the past 5 years, Rhode Island home prices have become more expensive compared to the rest of the country and rent in Rhode Island has become less expensive over the past 5 years relative to the rest of the country.

Rhode Island Home Price and Rent Percentile

2019 1 Year Change
(delta)		 5 Year Change
(delta)
Rhode Island Home Price Percentile 74.51% +3.92% +1.96%
Rhode Island Rent Percentile 58.82% 0.00% -9.81%

Rhode Island Trends in Home Price and Rent Percentile: Rhode Island, US

Rhode Island Home Price and Rent Percentile History

Date Rhode Island Home Price Percentile Rhode Island Rent Percentile
2019 74.51% 58.82%
2018 70.59% 58.82%
2017 68.63% 54.90%
2016 70.59% 58.82%
2015 72.55% 66.67%
2014 72.55% 68.63%
2013 74.51% 68.63%
2012 74.51% 66.67%
2011 82.35% 68.63%
2010 82.35% 70.59%
2009 82.35% 70.59%
2008 82.35% 68.63%

more history ...

Rhode Island Housing Units: Owner Occupied, Renter Occupied and Vacant

The data below shows the number of housing units in Rhode Island by type. Over the past 5 years, the number of housing units held by owner occupiers increased by 4.26% while the total number of rented units in Rhode Island decreased by 7.55%. Units that were vacant1 increased by 18.93% over the last 5 years.

Rhode Island Changes in Owned, Rented and Vacant Units

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Rhode Island Owner Occ. Units 251,146 -0.08% +4.26%
Rhode Island Renter Occ. Units 156,028 +0.52% -7.55%
Rhode Island Vacant Units 63,003 +0.68% +18.93%

Rhode Island Housing Share Trends: Owned, Rented and Vacant: Owned, Rented, Vacant

The chart below shows the share of each housing type in Rhode Island as a fraction of total housing units.

Rhode Island Owned, Rented and Vacant Units History

Date Rhode Island Owner Occ. Units Rhode Island Renter Occ. Units Rhode Island Vacant Units
2019 251,146 156,028 63,003
2018 251,354 155,219 62,580
2017 248,723 160,025 59,518
2016 236,882 171,357 54,359
2015 240,618 166,866 55,071
2014 240,878 168,776 52,976
2013 245,409 160,957 55,292
2012 247,790 165,293 49,535
2011 249,754 162,505 52,482
2010 244,516 157,779 61,121
2009 257,680 148,663 45,837
2008 249,139 149,968 52,663

more history ...

Rhode Island Population

This data shows the population of Rhode Island for the under 18 category and the 18 and over category. In the last 5 years the under 18 population has decreased by 4.22% while the 18 and over population has increased by 1.56%.The total population of Rhode Island has increased by 0.40% in the last 5 years.

Changes in Rhode Island Population

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Rhode Island Population Under 18 203,575 -0.16% -4.22%
Rhode Island Population 18+ 855,786 +0.28% +1.56%
Rhode Island Total Population 1,059,361 +0.19% +0.40%

Rhode Island Population Age Share: Under 18, 18 and Over: 18+, Under 18

Rhode Island Population History

Date Rhode Island Population Under 18 Rhode Island Population 18+ Rhode Island Total Population
2019 203,575 855,786 1,059,361
2018 203,908 853,407 1,057,315
2017 206,972 852,667 1,059,639
2016 208,640 847,786 1,056,426
2015 211,875 844,423 1,056,298
2014 212,555 842,618 1,055,173
2013 212,847 838,664 1,051,511
2012 216,962 833,330 1,050,292
2011 219,074 832,228 1,051,302
2010 224,023 828,863 1,052,886
2009 226,763 826,446 1,053,209
2008 228,501 822,287 1,050,788

more history ...

1. The Census defines a vacant unit as belonging to the following set: For rent, Rented not occupied, For sale only, Sold not occupied, For seasonal or recreational or other occasional use, For migrant workers, Other vacant. ↩

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