Quality of life comparison
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of Rhode Island, you would:
Health
be 19.9% less likely to be obese
In Rhode Island, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 25.3% of people as of 2022.
be 13.7% less likely to have diabetes
In Rhode Island, 10.2% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 8.8% as of 2022.
Economy
make 3.7 times more money
Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in District of Columbia, the GDP per capita is $209,167 as of 2024.
be 45.5% more likely to be unemployed
In Rhode Island, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.4% as of 2025.
be 32.0% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Rhode Island, 10.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In District of Columbia, however, that number is 13.6% as of 2023.
Safety
be 6.8 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Rhode Island has a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 1,126 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 3.8 times more likely to be a victim of property crime
Rhode Island has a property crime rate of 1,102 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,216 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 23.1% more money
The median household income in Rhode Island is $86,372 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $106,287 as of 2023.
pay 96.5% more for a home
The median home value in Rhode Island is $368,800 as of 2023, compared to $724,600 in District of Columbia as of 2023.
pay 49.3% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Rhode Island is $1,273 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $1,900 as of 2023.
be 35.1% less likely to own your home
In Rhode Island, 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 41.1% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 21.4% less likely to be uninsured
In Rhode Island, 4.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 15.3% less likely to smoke
In Rhode Island, 13.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 35.1% less likely to be physically inactive
In Rhode Island, 23.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 15.5% as of 2022.
be 70.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Rhode Island, 26.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 44.4% as of 2023.
commute 4.8 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Rhode Island takes 25.5 minutes as of 2023. In District of Columbia, it takes 30.3 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 5.6 years older on average
The median age in Rhode Island is 40.5 years as of 2023. In District of Columbia, the median age is 34.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 10.6 times more densely populated
Rhode Island has a population density of 407.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,322.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
