Rhode Island property tax by county

Updated

Across Rhode Island's 5 counties, the typical (median) effective property-tax rate is 1.37% of a home's value. Rates vary widely by county, from 0.95% in Newport County to 1.47% in Kent County. The full ranking is below; each county links to its own page. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Property tax rate by county in Rhode Island

Rhode Island counties by effective property-tax rate (Census ACS, reviewed August 29, 2026)
County Effective rate Median tax Median home value
Kent County 1.47% $4,903 $333,900
Bristol County 1.39% $6,483 $468,000
Providence County 1.37% $4,661 $339,100
Washington County 1.05% $4,954 $469,800
Newport County 0.95% $5,345 $559,700

Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023), tables B25103 and B25077.

Why county rates vary so much

Property tax is set locally, not by the state, so the rate depends on the county, city, school district, and special districts where a home sits, and on how those local budgets compare to local home values. A county with low home values can still have a high effective rate if its local budgets are large, and a wealthy county can have a low effective rate. The effective rate shown here is the median tax bill divided by the median home value, which is the standard way to compare places; your own bill depends on your assessment and any exemptions.

For Rhode Island's income and retirement taxes, see Rhode Island income tax and Rhode Island retirement taxes.

Sources