RIRhode Island rankings

Most affordable towns in Rhode Island

Ranked by how many years of a typical RI household income ($87,796) it takes to buy each town's median home. Lower is easier to buy in. 38 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Map of Cranston
Rhode Island · Most affordable

Cranston ranks #11 of 38

4.3 yrs of a typical RI income buys a typical home · Visit Cranston →

Cranston ranks #11 of 38 for most affordable in Rhode Island
#TownYears of incomeHome valueMedian income
1 Woonsocket43,521 people 3.5 yrs $311,000 $61,059
2 Map of Pawtucket Pawtucket75,893 people 3.7 yrs $325,500 $68,310
3 Map of West Warwick West WarwickKent County · 31,173 people 3.8 yrs $330,800 $77,608
4 Map of Central Falls Central Falls22,701 people 4.0 yrs $352,100 $49,285
5 Map of Warwick Warwick83,175 people 4.0 yrs $354,600 $88,708
6 JohnstonProvidence County · 29,835 people 4.0 yrs $355,500 $91,866
7 North Providence North ProvidenceProvidence County · 34,293 people 4.1 yrs $355,900 $83,756
8 CoventryKent County · 35,907 people 4.1 yrs $356,200 $102,946
9 Providence191,767 people 4.1 yrs $362,200 $68,119
10 Map of East Providence East Providence47,281 people 4.2 yrs $365,500 $75,912
11 Map of Cranston Cranston83,250 people 4.3 yrs $378,300 $90,206
12 Map of Burrillville BurrillvilleProvidence County · 16,427 people 4.4 yrs $384,400 $119,813
13 Warren WarrenBristol County · 11,144 people 4.5 yrs $395,700 $90,729
14 Map of Glocester GlocesterProvidence County · 10,221 people 4.5 yrs $396,500 $113,508
15 HopkintonWashington County · 8,420 people 4.6 yrs $404,300 $97,172
16 Map of Tiverton TivertonNewport County · 16,189 people 4.7 yrs $411,900 $106,036
17 FosterProvidence County · 4,523 people 4.8 yrs $425,300 $113,646
18 Map of Cumberland CumberlandProvidence County · 36,820 people 4.9 yrs $431,000 $117,522
19 RichmondWashington County · 8,142 people 5.0 yrs $435,800 $124,653
20 SmithfieldProvidence County · 22,233 people 5.1 yrs $446,400 $102,077
21 Map of Scituate ScituateProvidence County · 10,517 people 5.1 yrs $449,300 $112,315
22 Map of Lincoln LincolnProvidence County · 22,864 people 5.1 yrs $450,600 $104,821
23 North Smithfield North SmithfieldProvidence County · 12,708 people 5.2 yrs $457,200 $108,866
24 Map of Westerly WesterlyWashington County · 23,333 people 5.3 yrs $466,600 $98,875
25 Bristol BristolBristol County · 22,220 people 5.5 yrs $485,000 $97,764
26 Exeter ExeterWashington County · 7,195 people 5.8 yrs $509,200 $111,250
27 CharlestownWashington County · 8,051 people 6.0 yrs $525,500 $109,404
28 West GreenwichKent County · 6,647 people 6.1 yrs $535,400 $135,625
29 North KingstownWashington County · 27,859 people 6.2 yrs $543,700 $126,293
30 South Kingstown South KingstownWashington County · 32,073 people 6.4 yrs $560,200 $108,960
31 Map of Middletown MiddletownNewport County · 16,832 people 6.4 yrs $563,300 $101,948
32 PortsmouthNewport County · 17,644 people 6.8 yrs $597,000 $117,467
33 BarringtonBristol County · 17,126 people 7.3 yrs $644,100 $153,198
34 Map of East Greenwich East GreenwichKent County · 14,554 people 7.7 yrs $671,700 $177,090
35 NarragansettWashington County · 14,494 people 8.5 yrs $743,500 $95,721
36 Newport24,874 people 8.5 yrs $746,900 $86,313
37 Little Compton Little ComptonNewport County · 3,584 people 8.9 yrs $783,400 $134,750
38 JamestownNewport County · 5,534 people 9.6 yrs $842,400 $140,625

How this ranking works

We divide each town’s median home value by the RI median household income ($87,796). The result is how many years of a typical paycheck it takes to buy a typical home there. Lower is more affordable. Across Rhode Island as a whole it’s 4.6 years.

Why not each town’s own income? That would rank wealthy towns with half-million-dollar homes as “affordable” only because their residents earn so much. One shared income answers the question people actually ask: where could a typical family afford to live?

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states