Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.5% of gross income.

Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Portsmouth median rent
$3,378/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Rhode Island)
$91,010/yr
Rent as % of income
44.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,584, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,275/mo in rent. Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378 exceeds that threshold by $1,103/mo, putting a dental hygienist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental hygienist works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Newport, RI
$3,284/mo (43.3% of income)
Newport, RI
$3,281/mo (43.3% of income)
Middletown, RI
$3,229/mo (42.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth

View full rent data for Portsmouth, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Median rent in Portsmouth is $3,378 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Rhode Island earns about $91,010 a year, which makes that rent 44.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Portsmouth?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Rhode Island (~$91,010/yr) supports up to $2,275 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $3,378/mo, which is $1,103/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Portsmouth?

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a dental hygienist in Rhode Island works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378.

Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Newport ($3,284/mo), Newport ($3,281/mo), Middletown ($3,229/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Rhode Island state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Portsmouth, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.