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Living in
Newport.
About
Life in Newport
Newport offers a distinctive blend of history, culture, and coastal living that appeals to people seeking an established community with strong character—but you should know the full picture before committing. The city's economy depends heavily on tourism tied to its mansion tours and sailing reputation, which keeps certain neighborhoods bustling seasonally while creating service-sector jobs that don't always pay enough to offset the cost of living. Median home values sit around $746,900 and rent averages $1,698 monthly, making this a pricey market even by New England standards.
Newport at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.5%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Newport: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Newport, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (12.6%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.4%
of residents
65 and Older
22.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
15.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
33.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.97
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% above RI average
Rent, home values, and income in Newport
In Newport, rent runs 27% above the RI average, and home values are 85% above the RI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,264
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
18.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $966,419 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for RI
Unemployment in Newport
Unemployment in Newport is close to the RI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Newport Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.9 min avg
How Newport residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Newport, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 62 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Newport runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
193.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,329.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Newport Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 4 events in 2024
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
36.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Newport County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Newport County, which includes Newport, the most common type is high wind, with 4 recorded events in 2024.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 4 | Heavy Snow | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | High Wind | $4,600 |
| 2021 | 7 | High Wind | $585,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | High Wind | $99,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Strong Wind | $9,200 |
| 2018 | 6 | Winter Storm | $5,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Newport County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, RI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from Newport) is typically good — 302 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
302
per year
Moderate Days
59
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Washington County, RI (16 mi away)
Climate76°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Newport has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
26.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
89
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 24°F | 4.03" |
| Feb | 40°F | 25°F | 3.57" |
| Mar | 46°F | 32°F | 4.61" |
| Apr | 55°F | 40°F | 4.73" |
| May | 65°F | 49°F | 3.91" |
| Jun | 72°F | 58°F | 3.17" |
| Jul | 77°F | 64°F | 3.21" |
| Aug | 78°F | 64°F | 3.29" |
| Sep | 73°F | 59°F | 3.82" |
| Oct | 63°F | 49°F | 4.72" |
| Nov | 53°F | 40°F | 3.94" |
| Dec | 44°F | 31°F | 4.45" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Newport
Newport has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Newport Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
South County Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Wakefield
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Newport
Newport's student/teacher ratio is 9.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 57.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
57.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Newport
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,121 students · in-state tuition $52,230 · 76% graduate · median earnings $73,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Newport
Newport has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Touro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
1 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
24 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
60 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Newport
Newport Public Library
300 Spring Street, Newport
Cities Near Newport
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Newport?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Newport FAQ
Is Newport, Rhode Island affordable?⌄
Newport's median rent is $1,698/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $86,313/year. Median home value is $746,900.
Is Newport, Rhode Island safe?⌄
Newport's violent crime rate was 194 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1330 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Newport, Rhode Island?⌄
Newport has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Newport, Rhode Island?⌄
The cost of living in Newport is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,698/month and median household income is $86,313/year. The median home value is $746,900. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Newport, Rhode Island?⌄
The average commute in Newport is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from