Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Washington instead of Rhode Island, you would:
Health
live 1.0 years longer
In Rhode Island, the average life expectancy is 78 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Washington, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 14.7% less likely to have diabetes
In Rhode Island, 10.2% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Washington, that number is 8.7% as of 2022.
Economy
make 54.1% more money
Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in Washington, the GDP per capita is $87,768 as of 2024.
be 20.5% more likely to be unemployed
In Rhode Island, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Washington, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.
Safety
be 2.1 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 Washington, that number is 349 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 2.6 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 Washington, that number is 2,819 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 40.9% more for a home
The median home value in Rhode Island is $368,800 as of 2023, compared to $519,800 in Washington as of 2023.
pay 32.1% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Rhode Island is $1,273 as of 2023, while in Washington, it is $1,682 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 20.4% less likely to smoke
In Rhode Island, 13.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Washington, that number is 10.9% as of 2022.
be 28.0% less likely to be physically inactive
In Rhode Island, 23.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Washington, that number is 17.2% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 88.8% less densely populated
Rhode Island has a population density of 407.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In Washington, that number is 45.6 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 15.2% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Rhode Island, 6.6% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Washington, that number is 7.6% as of 2023.
commute 1.5 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Rhode Island takes 25.5 minutes as of 2023. In Washington, it takes 27.0 minutes as of 2023.
be 45.2% more likely to be uninsured
In Rhode Island, 4.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Washington, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 2.3 years older on average
The median age in Rhode Island is 40.5 years as of 2023. In Washington, the median age is 38.2 years 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.
