Providence, Rhode Island

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Providence.

MapsToIt planning snapshot

How much does it cost to live in Providence?

Providence planning snapshot: population 194,706, housing index 103 (near the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $322,800, median rent $1,333, and income near $66,772. Expect 81°F summer highs, 24°F winter lows, and about 24-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 496.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 103U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $322,800U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,333U.S. $1,348
Median income: $66,772U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 4.0%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 496.2per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 81°FCatalog avg 87°F

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Key figures

Each metric shows how Providence compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).

Population: 194,706City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $66,772Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year15% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 103ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg (100)U.S. 100
Median home value: $322,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year6% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,333City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 4.0%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
Avg commute: 24 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
Walk Score: 7669% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
Violent crime rate: 496.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)15% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 3011.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (3087.9)U.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 81°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 24°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 47.5 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals44% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 238As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals11% below U.S. avgU.S. 268

Population trend

Providence grew 9.4% from 178,029 in 2010 to 194,706 in 2024.

Dec 2024194,706 people+9.4% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Providence expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Providence's housing cost index is 103 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($322,800 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,333 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 103 (U.S. 100)
Median home $322,800 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $1,333 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Providence?

Typical ownership costs center near $322,800, while median gross rent is about $1,333 a month. Against a median household income of $66,772, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $322,800
Median rent $1,333/month
Median household income $66,772

What is the job market like in Providence?

County unemployment recently ran 4.0% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Providence is about $66,772 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 4.0% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $66,772

How long is the typical commute in Providence?

Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 76/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

24 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 76/100

Is Providence safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 496.2 per 100k and property about 3011.2 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 496.2 per 100k
Property 3011.2 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Providence?

Normals show summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 24°F, about 47.5 inches of rain, and roughly 238 sunny days a year.

Summer high 81°F
Winter low 24°F
47.5 in rain · 238 sunny days

Compare Providence to another city Find cities like Providence

A tiny coastal state where beach towns and Providence jobs sit close together. Expect summer highs near 81°F and winter lows around 24°F. Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 76/100. Labor-market readings near 4.0% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 496.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.

Providence (pop. 194,706) sits in Rhode Island. With median income around $66,772 and a cost index of 103, the market reads close to the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $322,800 push many newcomers toward renting first.

Providence is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Providence with nearby alternatives before you relocate.

Nearby & similar cities

Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.

Sources

Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Providence city, 1600000US4459000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Providence County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014765 PROVIDENCE T F GREEN AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

Canonical profile · All Rhode Island cities · Full city index