RANK #362 / 996 NAT · POP 85,442
1YR FORECAST: +4.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Newport County, Rhode Island, is perhaps best known for the opulent Gilded Age mansions lining Bellevue Avenue in the city of Newport, a testament to its past as a summer retreat for the wealthy. This coastal county, located on Aquidneck Island, sits roughly 30 minutes south of Providence and about 1.5 hours from Boston, offering a blend of historic charm and seaside living. The community embraces its maritime heritage, with sailing a prominent activity in Narragansett Bay. Residents and visitors enjoy outdoor recreation along the scenic Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile path offering ocean views, and at parks like Fort Adams State Park, popular for walking, picnicking, and water sports.
Life in Newport County is characterized by its connection to the water and a strong sense of community, attracting both young professionals and retirees. While the cost of living, particularly housing, is higher than the state average, residents value the quality of life, safety, and access to outdoor activities. The economy is driven by tourism, arts, and maritime industries, with a notable presence of defense-related businesses and educational institutions like Naval Station Newport. The region has seen growth in professional, scientific, and technical services, contributing to a diverse economic landscape. Public schools in towns like Middletown and Portsmouth are highly rated, and Newport itself offers various educational programs.
Above national median (4.7x)
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.2x 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Revolution Wind Project
Undisclosed (part of RI's clean energy portfolio)
|
$400M | Operating |
|
ConnectRI Broadband Infrastructure
GoNetspeed and Verizon (with federal funding)
|
$52M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, Newport County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.6%, and median household income stands at $96,319 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in RI.
Newport County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $503,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,544/month on average.
Employers in Newport County are hiring — job growth of +1.6% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +4.7% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 1.9% of Newport County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.