INTERACTIVE: Where RI Household Incomes Have Risen the Most

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INTERACTIVE: Where RI Household Incomes Have Risen the Most

Here Are the Counties Where Household Income Has Risen the Most in Rhode Island American households are making more money today than they did three decades ago—in some places, a lot more. In order to find out which places have seen the greatest increase in household income, we turned to the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS), which uses historical reports from the decennial Census and the American Community Survey to track median income over time. Research site MooseRoots then adjusted all the data to 2015 dollars to filter out the effects of inflation. On the whole, households in northeastern states have seen the largest income increase since 1980, with New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont ranking among the top five. South Dakota and the District of Columbia round out the top list. In each case, household income has risen over 30% in just 30 years. Only a handful of states have seen median household incomes actually decrease since 1980—and several of them are in the Midwest. For a big-picture perspective on the changes across the nation, Mooseroots created heat maps to show the 30-year transformation, both in absolute dollars and percent change. You can use the toggle menu below to adjust the metric.
 

On the extreme ends, Massachusetts household income rose over $18,000 in three decades, while household income in Michigan dropped by about $5,000. Meanwhile, the median increase across the whole nation was $6,280. Unfortunately, this picture of economic prosperity gets a lot less rosy the more you look at extra caveats and context. The American household as a whole might be making more now, but young Americans are making less. The rise of technology and automation has eliminated the need for many blue-collar jobs, the sort of positions once filled by non-college-educated young workers. While this change has impacted Michigan the most, the trend holds true across the nation. Next, consider that the cost of living has risen most rapidly in coastal states like California and New York. With the notable exception of South Dakota, the rise in median income has struggled to match the rise of home prices, college tuition and other life expenses, effectively canceling out the gains. So while households today earn more money, they tend to have higher expenses as well. Here are the 5 counties in Rhode Island where median household income has increased the most since 1980. 5. Newport County - Median income change: $23,460 (48.8%).

 

4. Washington County - Median income change: $22,499 (43.5%).

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3. Bristol County - Median income change: $19,857 (37.5%).

 

2. Kent County - Median income change: $10,729 (20.4%).

 

1. Providence County - Median income change: $8,082 (19.1%).

 

Here are the 5 counties in Rhode Island where median household income has increased the most since 1980. 5. Providence County - Median income change: $8,082 (19.1%).

 

4. Kent County - Median income change: $10,729 (20.4%).

 

3. Bristol County - Median income change: $19,857 (37.5%).

 

2. Washington County - Median income change: $22,499 (43.5%).

 

1. Newport County - Median income change: $23,460 (48.8%).

 
 
 

The Wealth Gap in RI Cities and Towns

39.

Hopkinton 

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.0%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.4%

Median income: $67,022

% in Median bracket: 23.6%

Inequality Score: 0.00

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

38.

Charlestown

Percent earning under $14,999: 6.0%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.8%

Median income: $69,349

% in Median bracket:19.5%

Inequality Score: 0.81

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

37.

Burrillville

Percent earning under $14,999: 8.1%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.6%

Median income: $62,188

% in Median bracket: 20.7%

Inequality Score: 0.86

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

36.

Warwick

Percent earning under $14,999: 9.5%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.1%

Median income: $62,295

% in Median bracket: 21.2%

Inequality Score: 0.88

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

35.

Coventry

Percent earning under $14,999: 9.0%

Percent earning over: $150,000: 9.2%

Median income: $65,565

% in Median bracket: 20.1%

Inequality Score: 0.91

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

34.

Foster

Percent earning under $14,999: 4.2%

Percent earning over $150,000:17.4%

Median income: $81,651

% in Median bracket: 23.5%

Inequality Score: 0.92

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

33.

Glocester

Percent earning under $14,999: 4.8%

Percent earning over $150,000: 11.6%

Median income: $80,942

% in Median bracket: 17.7%

Inequality Score: 0.93

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

32.

North Providence

Percent earning under $14,999: 13.1%

Percent earning over $150,000: 5.8%

Median income: $51,470

% in Median bracket: 19.6%

Inequality Score: 0.96

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

31.

Westerly

Percent earning under $14,999: 7.9%

Percent earning over $150,000: 11.5%

Median income: $60,532

% in Median bracket:18.5%

Inequality Score: 1.05

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

30.

New Shoreham

Percent earning under $14,999: 3.8 %

Percent earning over $150,000: 20.7%

Median income: $90,491

% in Median bracket: 23.0%

Inequality Score: 1.07

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

29.

Warren 

Percent earning under $14,999: 11.3%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.3%

Median income: $54,295

% in Median bracket: 18.8%

Inequality Score: 1.10

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

28.

Smithfield

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.2%

Percent earnng over $150,000: 16.0%

Median income: $74,000

% in Median bracket: 19.3%

Inequality Score: 1.10

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

27.

West Greenwich

Percent earning under $14,999: 2.9%

Percent earning over $150,000: 17.1%

Median income: $78,438

% in Median bracket: 18.1%

Inequality Score: 1.10

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

26.

Richmond

Percent earning under $14,999: 4.5%

Percent earning over $150,000: 20.2%

Median income: $93,975

% in Median bracket: 22.2%

Inequality Score: 1.11

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

25.

West Warwick

Percent earning under $14,999: 14.5%

Percent earning over $150,000: 4.4%

Median income: $50,590

% in Median bracket: 16.4%

Inequality Score: 1.15

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

24.

Middletown

Percent earning under $14,999: 9.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 13.8%

Median income: $69,784

% in Median bracket: 19.3%

Inequality Score: 1.19

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

23.

Cranston

Percent earning under $14,999: 10.8%

Percent earning over $150,000: 9.6%

Median income: $60,283

% in Median bracket: 17.1%

Inequality Score: 1.19

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

22.

Tiverton

Percent earning under $14,999: 7.7%

Percent earning over $150,000: 11.6%

Median income: $73,085

% in Median bracket: 15.6%

Inequality Score: 1.24

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

21.

North Smithfield

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.7%

Percent earning over $150,000: 15.3%

Median income: $77,378

% in Median bracket: 16.4%

Inequality Score: 1.28

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

20.

Cumberland

Percent earning under $14,999: 8.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 14.5%

Median income: $72,160

% in Median bracket: 17.3%

Inequality Score: 1.31

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

19.

Scituate

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.7%

Percent earnng over $150,000: 16.7%

Median income: $78,980

% in Median bracket: 16.7%

Inequality Score: 1.34

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal. 

18.

East Providence

Percent earning under $14,999: 13.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 6.3%

Median income: $48,521

% in Median bracket: 14.2%

Inequality Score: 1.37

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

17.

Johnston

Percent earning under $14,999: 14.9%

Percent earning over $150,000: 8.6%

Median income: $56,343

% in Median bracket: 16.8%

Inequality Score: 1.40

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

16.

Newport

Percent earning under $14,999: 9.1%

Percent earning over $150,000: 15.2%

Median income: $71,713

% in Median bracket: 17.3%

Inequality Score: 1.40

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

15.

South Kingstown

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.8%

Percent earning over $150,000: 18.9%

Median income: $73,780

% in Median bracket: 17.4%

Inequaltiy Score: 1.42

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

14.

Barrington

Percent earning under $14,999: 2.7%

Percent earning over $150,000: 30.1%

Median income: $103,696

% in Median bracket: 21.8%

Inequality Score: 1.50

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

13.

Bristol

Percent earning under $14,999: 13.9%

Percent earning over $150,000: 11.9%

Median income: $62,358

% in Median bracket: 16.6%

Inequality Score: 1.55

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

12.

Narragansett

Percent earning under $14,999: 9.3%

Percent earning over $150,000: 17.2%

Median income: $66,600

% in Median bracket: 16.9%

Inequality Score: 1.57

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

11.

Exeter

Percent earning under $14,999: 6.8%

Percent earning over $150,000: 16.3%

Median income: $81,591

% in Median bracket: 14.6%

Inequality Score: 1.58

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

10.

Pawtucket

Percent earning under $14,999: 20.1%

Percent earning over $150,000: 3.7%

Median income: $40,379

% in Median bracket: 14.6%

Inequality Score: 1.63

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

9.

Lincoln

Percent earning under $14,999: 7.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 18.1%

Median income: $72,434

% in Median bracket: 15.4%

Inequality Score: 1.64

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

8.

Portsmouth

Percent earning under $14,999: 8.6%

Percent earning over $150,000: 21.8%

Median income: $74,487

% in Median bracket: 17.9%

Inequality Score: 1.70

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

7.

Central Falls

Percent earning under $14,999: 23.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 0.9%

Median income: $27,993

% in Median bracket: 13.7%

Inequality Score: 1.76

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

6.

North Kingstown

Percent earning under $14,999: 6.7%

Percent earning over $150,000: 20.2%

Median income: $80,530

% in Median bracket: 14.3%

Inequality Score: 1.88

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

5.

Woonsocket

Percent earning under $14,999: 23.6%

Percent earning over $150,000: 3.2%

Median income: $36,058

% in Median income: 13.2%

Inequality Score: 2.03

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

4.

Little Compton

Percent earning under $14,999: 7.2%

Percent earning over $150,000: 21.7%

Median income: $85,852

% in Median income: 13.0%

Inequality Score: 2.22

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

3.

Providence

Percent earning under $14,999: 24.6%

Percent earning over $150,000: 6.8%

Median income: $37,632

% in Median income: 12.7%

Inequality Score: 2.47

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

2.

Jamestown

Percent earning under $14,999: 8.6%

Percent earning over $150,000: 25.3%

Median income: $90,484

% in Median income: 13.2%

Inequality Score: 2.57

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

1.

East Greenwich

Percent earning under $14,999: 5.9%

Percent earning over $150,000: 33.1%

Median income: $96,438

% in Median income: 11.2%

Inequality Score: 3.48

Score Key: Figures above 1 correspond to more inequality. Scores under 1 mean communities are more equal.

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