County FMR · HUD FY2026
Providence County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Providence County, RI - 46% above the US average.
- $1,402
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,729
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.3%
- YoY change
- +46%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Providence is the 2nd most expensive of 5 counties in Rhode Island by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 6.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #2
- most expensive of 5 in Rhode Island (2BR)
- +0%
- vs the state average
- $56,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +6.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (55.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Providence County, RI. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Providence County, Rhode Island is $1,402 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,729/mo and a studio is $1,318/mo. This is 46% higher than the national average of $959 and 0% above the Rhode Island average of $1,402.
Rent increased6.3% from FY 2025 ($1,319), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $56,080/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Rhode Island. Population: 16,243. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.9%, Census ACS). That's in line with Rhode Island's statewide growth of +3.7% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Providence County
The Providence County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Rhode Island's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 46% above the US average of $959 and 0% higher than the Rhode Island state average of $1,402. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,319 in FY 2025 to $1,402 in FY 2026 - a change of +6.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,402, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $56,080 per year (about $4,673/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,729 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 16,243 and a county median household income of $78,204, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,233 | $1,318 | +$85 (+6.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,319 | $1,402 | +$83 (+6.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,614 | $1,729 | +$115 (+7.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,945 | $2,087 | +$142 (+7.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,359 | $2,480 | +$121 (+5.1%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Providence County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Providence County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Providence sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,729 Top 9% higher than 91% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Providence compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Rhode Island counties
- Providence
Providence County
$1,402 1BR FMR / mo
- Kent
Kent County
$1,402 1BR FMR / mo
- Bristol
Bristol County
$1,402 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,402 1BR FMR / mo
- Newport
Newport County
$1,402 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Providence is highlighted. Nearby Rhode Island counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Providence County (this county) ($1,402), Kent County ($1,402), Bristol County ($1,402), Washington County ($1,402), Newport County ($1,402).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,402/mo compares to Rhode Island salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | RI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $128,660 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $122,040 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $99,960 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,040 | 18.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $86,900 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,280 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,160 | 24% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,710 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,540 | 30.8% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,490 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,730 | 44.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,380 | 46.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,860 | 48.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,920 | 52.7% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,460 | 55.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Providence County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Providence (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.1% overall, from $898 to $1,402. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.3% | $1,318 | $1,402 | $1,729 |
| FY 2025 ↓5.7% | $1,233 | $1,319 | $1,614 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.4% | $1,289 | $1,398 | $1,693 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.1% | $1,066 | $1,171 | $1,409 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.4% | $913 | $1,026 | $1,234 |
| FY 2021 ↑6.3% | $848 | $955 | $1,148 |
| FY 2020 | $794 | $898 | $1,075 |
Part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area
Providence County is a central county of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Providence County ranks #5 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Kent County ($1,402), Bristol County ($1,402), Washington County ($1,402), Newport County ($1,402), Providence County (this county) ($1,402), Bristol County ($1,230).
Nearby Counties in Rhode Island
Largest counties by population in Rhode Island
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Providence County? ▼
How does Providence County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Providence County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Providence County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Providence County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Providence County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Providence County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Providence County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Providence's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,402 implies about $56,080/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Providence can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.