What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Rhode Island this week

Out of reach · #41 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Rhode Island household earning $96,880 a year can afford a home of about $306,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Rhode Island listing is $569,900, which would take 52.2% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$306,000

Affordable home price

+$2,017 vs. last week · −$11,610 vs. a year ago

$570,000

Median list price (September 2026)

−$2,500 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Rhode Island 56 a year ago

52.2%

Share of income the median listing takes

$4,212/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$97,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#41

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $572,400 and median income of $91,360 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $317,000 and the median listing took 50.5% of income. Affordability in Rhode Island has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#39 Washington: can afford $355,000, median listing $639,000
#40 Tennessee: can afford $238,000, median listing $429,000
#42 New Mexico: can afford $213,000, median listing $399,000
#43 Oregon: can afford $293,000, median listing $550,000

Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.