Warwick
RANK #500 / 996 NAT · POP 170,168
1YR FORECAST: +2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Kent County, Rhode Island, offers a blend of suburban and rural living, stretching from the shores of Narragansett Bay to the Connecticut border. Warwick, the county's largest city, is home to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, providing convenient air travel and commuter rail service to Providence and Boston. The county features extensive outdoor recreation, including the 19-mile Washington Secondary Bike Path, Johnson's Pond for water activities, and vast conservation areas like Arcadia Management Area and Big River Management Area, popular for hiking and wildlife viewing.
Life in Kent County appeals to a range of residents, from families to young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. Commute options include easy access to I-95 and I-295, as well as public bus and commuter rail services. The local economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments in commercial and residential development, as well as emerging sectors like data centers and energy. The county's central location within Rhode Island provides access to amenities across the state.
Above national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 5.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables
|
$704M | Under Construction |
|
Microsoft Data Center Campus
Microsoft
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Coventry Multi-Family Residential Development
Starr Capital
|
$70M | Proposed |
|
Robin Hollow Solar Farm
Undisclosed
|
$41M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Kent County scores 49/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#500). Median household income is $85,732 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Kent County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $306,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,226/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Kent County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs +0.5%. Home values shifted +2.9% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.97% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Kent County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.