The Town FilesNew Shoreham, Rhode Island
Town in Washington County · population 1,410 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,301,100
- Household income
- $83,190
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 56.8
New Shoreham is a town of 1,410 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $1,301,100, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Rhode Island towns, hipper than 98% of Rhode Island towns, quieter than 93% of Rhode Island towns.
How New Shoreham 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 New Shoreham is worth $1,301,100, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 15.6 times the median household income of $83,190, which is more affordable than 0% of Rhode Island towns. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Shoreham | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,301,100 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | — | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $83,190 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 15.6× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 74.9% | — |
Who lives in New Shoreham
| People | New Shoreham | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.8 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 2.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.6% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 7.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 93.3% |
Weather in New Shoreham
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.9 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of New Shoreham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 10, 2012 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2012.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 14, 2023 | Fire | FM-5464: Queens River Fire |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 59,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in New Shoreham itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in New Shoreham
1 public school with 125 students, about 5.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block Island School | 1-12 | 125 | 5.7 |
Towns near New Shoreham
- Charlestown, RI13.0 mi · 1,714 people · home $583,200
- Charlestown, RI13.4 mi · 7,997 people · home $525,500
- Narragansett, RI14.7 mi · 14,532 people · home $743,500
- Westerly, RI14.9 mi · 23,359 people · home $466,600
- South Kingstown, RI15.0 mi · 31,931 people · home $560,200
- Bradford, RI16.7 mi · 1,457 people · home $418,100
- Narragansett Pier, RI17.0 mi · 3,308 people · home $851,300
- Westerly, RI17.3 mi · 18,423 people · home $448,800
New Shoreham questions
Is New Shoreham, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Shoreham scores better for retirees than 98% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 93%. 42.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.8).
How much does a house cost in New Shoreham?
The median owner-occupied home in New Shoreham is valued at $1,301,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,190, so homes cost about 15.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in New Shoreham?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 30.9 inches of snow.
Does New Shoreham get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of New Shoreham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 10, 2012. 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)