Poverty and living standards in Rhode Island, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 12.0% of people in Rhode Island lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 128,454 people; 21st highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Rhode Island gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Rhode Island was 11.6% (118,095 people), so the rate is up 0.4 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Rhode Island?
15.5% of children under 18 in Rhode Island were in poverty in 2024, about 31,119 children; joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 18.3% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Rhode Island?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Rhode Island was 0.4717 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 19th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Rhode Island are cost-burdened?
51.1% of renting households in Rhode Island spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 26.2% spent half or more; the 30% share is 19th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Rhode Island get food stamps?
13.9% of households in Rhode Island (62,265) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 10th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 47% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 50% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Rhode Island?
An average of 143,670 people in Rhode Island received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 0.4% on fiscal 2024 (144,270), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Rhode Island?
SNAP benefits paid in Rhode Island totaled $342.40 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $198.60 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 7th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Rhode Island?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,373 people experiencing homelessness in Rhode Island, down 2.8% on 2024 (2,442) and up 124.9% on 2019 (1,055); 8th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Rhode Island sleep outside?
Of those counted in Rhode Island in January 2025, 1,755 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 618 (26.0%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 25th lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Rhode Island?
The January 2025 count in Rhode Island included 866 people in families with children, 521 children under 18, 767 chronically homeless individuals and 125 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Rhode Island are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 9.7% of households in Rhode Island were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 10th lowest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Rhode Island getting worse?
4.3% of households in Rhode Island had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 8.2% in 2018-20 and 14.4% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Rhode Island compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Missouri | 12.2% |
| 19 | Florida | 12.1% |
| 20 | Indiana | 12.1% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 12.0% |
| 22 | Arizona | 11.9% |
| 23 | California | 11.8% |
| 24 | Nevada | 11.8% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Indiana | 15.8% |
| 19 | Florida | 15.7% |
| 20 | Nevada | 15.5% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 15.5% |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 15.3% |
| 23 | Missouri | 15.3% |
| 24 | Arizona | 15.2% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 19 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Washington | 0.4725 |
| 17 | New Mexico | 0.4722 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.4721 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | North Carolina | 51.5% |
| 17 | Maryland | 51.5% |
| 18 | Michigan | 51.2% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 51.1% |
| 20 | Washington | 50.7% |
| 21 | Mississippi | 50.3% |
| 22 | Delaware | 50.3% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Rhode Island ranks 10 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.0% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 13.9% |
| 11 | California | 13.5% |
| 12 | Illinois | 13.4% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.4% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Rhode Island ranks 42 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Colorado | 9.9% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 9.8% |
| 41 | Iowa | 9.8% |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 9.7% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
| 44 | Washington | 9.5% |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 9.3% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Rhode Island ranks 44 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Alaska | 2,655 |
| 42 | Maine | 2,413 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 2,406 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 2,373 |
| 45 | Montana | 2,263 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 1,925 |
| 47 | Delaware | 1,573 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Rhode Island ranks 27 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
| 25 | Colorado | 30.4% |
| 26 | New Hampshire | 27.1% |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 26.0% |
| 28 | South Dakota | 25.0% |
| 29 | Indiana | 23.0% |
| 30 | Utah | 22.8% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Rhode Island ranks 41 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Maine | 166,321 |
| 39 | Hawaii | 161,312 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 150,587 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | 143,670 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | 140,907 |
| 43 | Idaho | 133,123 |
| 44 | Delaware | 118,828 |
More on Rhode Island: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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