The Town FilesMiddletown, Rhode Island
Town in Newport County · population 17,075 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $563,300
- Household income
- $101,948
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.8
Middletown is a town of 17,075 people in Newport County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $563,300, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of Rhode Island towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of Rhode Island towns, hipper than 81% of Rhode Island towns.
How Middletown ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Middletown is worth $563,300, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $101,948, which is more affordable than 16% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,990 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Middletown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $563,300 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,990 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $101,948 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.0% | — |
Who lives in Middletown
| People | Middletown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in Middletown
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middletown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 2, 2019 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2008.
Severe weather in Newport County since 1996
Newport County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3440: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Newport County
Newport County had 42,622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,656 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Middletown itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Middletown
5 public schools with 1,904 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown High School | 9-12 | 562 | 11.5 |
| Gaudet Middle School | 6-8 | 457 | 12.0 |
| Forest Avenue School | K-3 | 309 | 12.4 |
| Aquidneck School | PK-3 | 303 | 13.8 |
| Gaudet Learning Academy | 4-5 | 273 | 13.0 |
Towns near Middletown
- Newport East, RI0.4 mi · 12,337 people · home $485,400
- Newport, RI3.6 mi · 25,163 people · home $746,900
- Jamestown, RI4.7 mi · 5,559 people · home $842,400
- Portsmouth, RI5.0 mi · 17,871 people · home $597,000
- Little Compton, RI6.0 mi · 3,616 people · home $783,400
- Tiverton, RI7.8 mi · 16,359 people · home $411,900
- North Kingstown, RI9.5 mi · 27,732 people · home $543,700
- Tiverton, RI10.1 mi · 7,809 people · home $407,200
Middletown questions
Is Middletown, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Middletown scores better for retirees than 66% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 45%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Middletown?
The median owner-occupied home in Middletown is valued at $563,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,948, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,990 a month.
What is the weather like in Middletown?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Middletown get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middletown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 2, 2019. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)