The Town FilesNewport, Rhode Island
City in Newport County · population 25,163 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $746,900
- Household income
- $86,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 37.2
Newport is a city of 25,163 people in Newport County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $746,900, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks hipper than 100% of Rhode Island towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Rhode Island towns, more vibrant than 97% of Rhode Island towns.
How Newport 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 Newport is worth $746,900, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 8.7 times the median household income of $86,313, which is more affordable than 4% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,698 a month. 49.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newport | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $746,900 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,698 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $86,313 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.7× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 49.8% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.3% | — |
Who lives in Newport
| People | Newport | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.9% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 93.3% |
Weather in Newport
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 2, 2019 about 8.6 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 9 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 Newport itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Newport
4 public schools with 1,821 students, about 9.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne Pell Elementary | PK-4 | 716 | 10.1 |
| Rogers High School | 9-12 | 605 | 10.1 |
| Frank E. Thompson Middle | 5-8 | 500 | 8.1 |
| Newport Area Career Tech Ctr | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Newport
- Newport East, RI3.2 mi · 12,337 people · home $485,400
- Middletown, RI3.6 mi · 17,075 people · home $563,300
- Jamestown, RI4.0 mi · 5,559 people · home $842,400
- Little Compton, RI8.2 mi · 3,616 people · home $783,400
- Portsmouth, RI8.2 mi · 17,871 people · home $597,000
- Narragansett Pier, RI8.3 mi · 3,308 people · home $851,300
- North Kingstown, RI9.4 mi · 27,732 people · home $543,700
- Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI9.6 mi · 8,925 people · home $494,400
Newport questions
Is Newport, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newport scores better for retirees than 33% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 7%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Newport?
The median owner-occupied home in Newport is valued at $746,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,313, so homes cost about 8.7 times income. Median rent is $1,698 a month.
What is the weather like in Newport?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Newport get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport 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)