City Report · RI

Newport

Pop. 24,874·3rd most expensive in Rhode Island·Newport rents are up 10.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,022/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

+$1,090

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Newport · $3,022

More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Newport's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,022/mo

Expected by trend

$3,112/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Newport's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,670

1 BR

$1,680

2 BR

$2,210

3 BR

$2,950

4 BR+

$3,340

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,210/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,022 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

October. Asking rents in Newport usually run 6% below trend in October and 6% above it in May, about $363 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Newport is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Rhode Island

Rent in Newport changed +10.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 19 Rhode Island cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Newport rose 68.9% while median household income rose 28.6% ($67,102 to $86,313). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Newport is 96.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($86,313) is $2,158 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,680); a 2-bedroom is $2,210.

Cheaper nearby

North Kingstown, 10 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,383/mo), about $7,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Newport. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$36,264/yr

At $3,022/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.3% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Newport, RI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 57.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,874

Median income

$86,313

Median age

37.2

Renters

50.2%

Age distribution

13.4%

33.7%

20.2%

22.2%

Under 1813.4%

18–3433.7%

35–5420.2%

55–6410.5%

65+22.2%

Gender

47.2%

52.8%

Male47.2%

Female52.8%

Race & ethnicity

75.5%

White75.5%

Black6.7%

Hispanic10.5%

Asian2.7%

Other4.6%

Education (25+)

17.5%

20.8%

57.9%

No HS diploma3.8%

HS diploma17.5%

Some college20.8%

Bachelor's+57.9%

Housing tenure

49.8%

50.2%

Owner49.8%

Renter50.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Newport, RI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,897 → $3,022

up 59.3%

Income

$77,092 → $86,313

up 12.0%

Population

25,322 → 24,874

down 1.8%

Renter share

53.7% → 50.2%

-3.5 pts

Bachelor's+

54.8% → 57.9%

+3.1 pts

Median age

35.2 → 37.2

+2.0 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Newport, RI has increased by $1,125 per month, settling near $3,022 after starting the period at $1,897. Household income in the area moved from $77,092 to $86,313 across the same window, up 12.0% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 47.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 25,322 to 24,874 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. About 50.2% of households rent today, against 53.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 54.8% to 57.9%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Newport, RI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Newport

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View Newport rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Newport on your salary?

At $3,022/mo, how Newport rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $98,259/yr · Rent = 36.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $69,763/yr · Rent = 52% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $80,361/yr · Rent = 45.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $143,634/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $183,529/yr · Rent = 19.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $65,322/yr · Rent = 55.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $58,978/yr · Rent = 61.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $72,696/yr · Rent = 49.9% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Newport rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Newport. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Newport

About renting in Newport, RI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Newport is $3,022/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,670/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,680/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,950/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($86,313/yr), Newport ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Newport?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $121,000/year (about $58/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,022/mo in Newport. The local median household income is $86,313/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Newport?

Rent in Newport has risen 10.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Newport?

Asking rents in Newport are usually lowest in October, about 6% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $363 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Newport?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Newport rose 68.9% while median household income rose 28.6%, from $67,102 to $86,313. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does Newport rent compare to other cities in Rhode Island?

Newport is one of the pricier among Rhode Island cities for rent, ranking #3 of 24 tracked cities at $3,022/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Newport changed +10.3%, against a typical +4.9% across the 19 Rhode Island cities Zillow tracks.