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Economy, jobs and prices in Providence, Rhode Island: official figures

The median household income in Providence was $68,119 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 260th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Rhode Island median $87,796.

Median household income
$68,119
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
8.2%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
25.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,408
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$362,200
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
41.4%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
89.7%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Providence?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Providence averaged $37,138 a year in 2020-2024, 310th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Rhode Island: $47,150).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Providence?

Providence's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.503 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 97th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Providence, Rhode Island?

8.2% of the civilian labor force in Providence was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (8,336 people), 79th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Rhode Island's 5.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Providence are working?

64.4% of Providence's 158,146 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 327th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Providence have jobs?

93,381 residents of Providence held civilian jobs, 59.0% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 170 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Providence?

The largest industry group for working residents of Providence was education, health care and social assistance (29.0% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (12.1%) and manufacturing (10.7%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Providence work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 10.7% of working residents of Providence, 276th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 12.1% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Providence, Rhode Island?

Commuters in Providence took 25.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 382nd longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 9.5% travelled an hour or more and 28.2% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Providence get to work?

14.3% of workers living in Providence worked from home in 2020-2024, 377th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 60.5% drove to work alone, 10.0% carpooled, 4.1% used public transport and 7.3% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Providence, Rhode Island?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Providence was $1,408 a month in 2020-2024, 322nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Rhode Island: $1,342).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Providence?

Owner-occupied homes in Providence had a median value of $362,200 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 365th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Rhode Island: $404,200).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Providence?

The median home value in Providence was 5.3 times the median household income, 319th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Providence, Rhode Island own their home?

41.4% of the 71,497 occupied homes in Providence were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 41,896 were rented, 69th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Rhode Island: 63.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Providence have broadband?

89.7% of households in Providence had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 191st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Rhode Island: 91.7%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Providence have no internet?

7.9% of households in Providence (5,624) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 141st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 15.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Providence compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 564 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
561Pawtucket$68,310
562Temple$68,204
563Southfield$68,166
564Providence$68,119
565El Monte$68,030
566Vineland$67,860
567Norman$67,704
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 514 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
511Albany$37,281
512Worcester$37,221
513Chino$37,217
514Providence$37,138
515Amarillo$37,126
516Elgin$37,057
517Auburn$37,018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 97 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
94Jackson0.504
95St. Louis0.503
96Athens0.503
97Providence0.503
98Salt Lake City0.503
99Clearwater0.503
100Chattanooga0.503
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 79 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
76Lansing8.2%
77Los Angeles8.2%
78Utica8.2%
79Providence8.2%
80Philadelphia8.1%
81Macon-Bibb County8.1%
82Jackson8.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 497 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
494Tulsa64.5%
495St. Charles64.5%
496Redlands64.4%
497Providence64.4%
498West Palm Beach64.4%
499Pittsburgh64.4%
500Petaluma64.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 382 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
379Westfield25.1
380Rock Hill25.0
381Sanford25.0
382Providence25.0
383Largo24.9
384Mount Pleasant24.9
385Lorain24.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 377 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
374Virginia Beach14.3%
375Denton14.3%
376Bayonne14.3%
377Providence14.3%
378St. George14.2%
379Menifee14.2%
380Albany14.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 125 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
122Wheaton4.2%
123Bloomington4.2%
124Oak Lawn4.2%
125Providence4.1%
126National City4.0%
127Lynwood4.0%
128Logan4.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 276 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
273St. Cloud10.8%
274Clarksville10.8%
275Alameda10.8%
276Providence10.7%
277Joliet10.7%
278Whittier10.7%
279San Clemente10.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 88 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
85Youngstown29.1%
86Somerville29.1%
87Muncie29.0%
88Providence29.0%
89Fayetteville29.0%
90White Plains29.0%
91New York29.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 502 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
499Nampa$1,420
500Salt Lake City$1,414
501Madison$1,413
502Providence$1,408
503Eugene$1,402
504Asheville$1,402
505Salem$1,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 459 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
456Spokane$363,500
457North Port$362,500
458Minneapolis$362,200
459Providence$362,200
460Bloomington$361,700
461Clearwater$361,300
462North Richland Hills$360,700
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 316 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
313Taunton5.3x
314Rancho Cordova5.3x
315Fort Pierce5.3x
316Providence5.3x
317Westminster5.3x
318Aurora5.3x
319Davie5.3x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 755 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
752Syracuse41.6%
753Washington41.5%
754El Cajon41.5%
755Providence41.4%
756Malden41.3%
757Long Beach41.2%
758Greenville41.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 633 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
630New Haven89.7%
631Logan89.7%
632Independence89.7%
633Providence89.7%
634Tulsa89.7%
635Greenville89.6%
636Twin Falls89.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Providence ranks 141 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
138Mission7.9%
139Battle Creek7.9%
140Odessa7.9%
141Providence7.9%
142Great Falls7.8%
143Corpus Christi7.8%
144Racine7.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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