Methods & Sources

HousingWorks RI relies on the most recent available government, industry and academic-researched data, professional journals, and peer-reviewed academic literature. Data in tables, graphs, and infographics are rounded to the nearest decimal places and may not total to 100 percent.

Methodologies and sources for research studies and other publications are described within each publication. Primary sources for this website and the Housing Fact Book include:

Population Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), 2015-2019, Population and Housing Unit Records; and ACS, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019, of total and municipal populations.

Households Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-Year estimates of total occupied housing units.

Owner and Renter Households Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-Year estimates of tenure.

Median Home Price

Median Home Price Source: Year-End 2020 and Year-End 2015, Single-Family Home Sales Statistics, from www.riliving.com, website of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors and Statewide Multiple Listing Service. Figures for 2015 are inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars.

Monthly Housing Payment for Homeownership Methodology:

Calculation of monthly housing payment is derived from:

• Assumed 3.5% down payment of 2020 median sale price of single family homes
• 30-year mortgage at 3.11% interest rate, the 2020 annual average, as reported by Freddie Mac at www.freddiemac.com/pmms/pmms30.htm.
• Tax Year 2020 municipal property taxes for individual municipalities (excluding homestead exemptions); statewide calculations are based on the average of all RI municipalities
• Estimated Hazard Insurance for each municipality
• FHA mortgage insurance at .85%/month
• Financed upfront 1.75% insurance fee required by FHA

Household Income Required to Afford the Median-Price Home Methodology:

Based on the generally accepted federal standard that a household should be spending no more than 30 percent of its income on housing payments (including rent or mortgage, utilities, taxes, and insurance). Calculated by annualizing the typical housing payment and dividing by 30% to get the income required to pay no more than 30%.

Average 2-Bedroom Rent

Average 2-Bedroom Rent Source: 2020 and 2015 Year-End Rent Survey, RIHousing using CoStar proprietary data. All rents have been adjusted (using HUD utility allowances for 2020) to include heat, cooking fuel, electricity, and hot water unless the listing stated that utilities were part of the contract rent, in which case the adjustment was not made. Figures for 2015 are inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars.

Household Income Required to Afford the Average Rent Methodology:

Based on the generally accepted federal standard that a household should be spending no more than 30 percent of its income on housing payments (including rent, utilities, taxes, and insurance). Calculated by annualizing the typical housing payment and dividing by 30% to get the income required to pay no more than 30%.

Affordability

Average Wage for a Private Sector Job in Each Municipality Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Private Sector, Annual 2020 – Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. The average weekly wage in each Rhode Island county is divided by 12 and multiplied by 0.3.

Median Renter Household Income by Area Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-year estimate of the median household incomes for prior 12 months of renter households in each Rhode Island county and Statewide. View a description of counties by cities and towns.

Minimum Wage in Rhode Island Source: Workforce Regulation and Safety, Labor Standards, Minimum Wage Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training for 2020. The hourly wage is multiplied by 37.5 hours for a full week and then multiplied by 52 weeks and divided by 12 for a monthly figure.

Cost Burdened Owner and Renter Households Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-year estimates of tenure by housing costs as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months. Owner-occupied units that report zero or negative income and renter-occupied units that indicate “no cash rent” are excluded from cost burden calculations.

Housing Stock

Total Units Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-year estimates of housing units.

Multifamily and Single Family Units Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015-2019 5-year estimates of units in structure. Single family units defined as one unit detached or mobile homes. Multifamily units defined as one unit attached or over two units in structure. Boats, RVs, and other unconventional housing units are excluded from calculations.

Infrastructure Source: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Division of Planning, Planning Information Center. The maps are intended to lend an illustrated context to each region by identifying selected villages and neighborhoods, availability of public water and sewer, some major roads and open space.

Residential Zoning Sources: The list of specific development strategies was compiled from each municipal comprehensive plan as available. Comprehensive plans are generally available here. Zoning information was obtained from each municipality’s Code of Ordinances. Most Codes are generally available online via American Legal Publishing, ClerkBase, eCode360 Library, and Municode. Municipalities were contacted directly when needed. Not meant for official/legal use. Please contact municipalities directly to discuss any interest in development of housing.

Annual Building Permits

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2020, Annual Permits by Place. Note: new construction only. Statewide figure is based on the combination of BPS and municipally reported information.

Long-Term Affordable Homes Source: Units that qualify as Low- and Moderate-Income Housing as percent of year-round housing stock.

State-Funded Building Homes Rhode Island Calculation: Includes all units funded, but not necessarily built.

Regional View

Website Sources:

Projected Future Housing Needs by 2025 Source: HousingWorks RI, Projecting Future Housing Needs Report (April 2016), commissioned by RIHousing.

Annual Building Permits Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2020, Annual Permits by Place added by region. Note: new construction only.

Projected Household Change by Age of Householder Source: HousingWorks RI, Projecting Future Housing Needs Report (April 2016), commissioned by RIHousing.

Housing Composition of Household Types Source: HousingWorks RI cross-tabulation of US Census, American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample, 5-Year, 2012-2016, Population and Housing Unit Records.

Households Below 80% Income Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 2011-2015.

Cost Burdened Owner and Renter Households Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019 of tenure by housing costs as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months. Owner-occupied units that report zero or negative income and renter-occupied units that indicate "no cash rent" are excluded from cost burden calculations.

2021 Housing Fact Book Sources:

Affordable Homes by Household Income Source: HousingWorks RI cross-tabulation of US Census, American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample, 5-Year, 2012-2016, Population and Housing Unit Records with analysis of Warren Group Mortgages and Homes Sales, 2017. Numbers of sales were multiplied by 10 as average tenure to accommodate scales.

Jobs: For all municipalities except Providence: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Labor Market Information Unit, “State of the State: A Statistical Profile of Rhode Island’s Cities and Towns.” Accessed at: https://dlt.ri.gov/documents/pdf/lmi/stateofthestate.pdf. For Providence by Census Tracts: U.S. Census Bureau, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD) On the Map website. Accessed at: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/.

Rental Affordability Source: HousingWorks RI analysis of RIHousing Rent Survey, 2017.

2017 Production Source: Low and Moderate Income Housing Chart, RIHousing, as of June 1, 2018.