Property Taxes in Rhode Island

Effective Rate

Rhode Island's average effective property tax rate is commonly cited between roughly 1.07% and 1.21% of assessed home value (Tax Foundation puts owner-occupied effective rate at 1.19%; TaxByCounty.com cites 1.21%; SmartAsset cites 1.07%), compared to a national average of roughly 0.91%–1.03%. By any of these measures, Rhode Island ranks among the 10-15 highest-tax states in the country for property taxes. There is meaningful county-level variation: Kent County has the highest effective rate (~1.22%), while Newport County has the lowest (~0.78%) — though Newport's higher home values mean its homeowners still pay some of the highest dollar amounts in the state.

Example: Statewide median annual property tax bill is approximately $4,886–$5,269 depending on source (SmartAsset: $4,886; TaxByCounty.com: $5,269) — roughly double the U.S. median of about $2,690. Example by county: Washington County has the highest median bill at $5,379/year (on a median home value of $615,900, effective rate 0.87%), while Kent County's median bill is $4,968/year on a $408,300 median home (1.22% effective rate).

Exemptions

Municipal Homestead / Owner-Occupied Exemption (varies by city/town)

Amount: Typically $15,000–$30,000 off assessed value, or a percentage-based reduction (e.g., North Kingstown: 5% off assessed value; Providence: uses a separate lower tax rate for owner-occupied Class 1A property rather than a flat exemption, sometimes described informally as a ~40% effective residential discount)

Rhode Island has NO statewide uniform homestead exemption — each of the state's 39 cities/towns independently decides whether to offer one and sets its own amount/method under state enabling law (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-5-11.18 for cities like Providence). Must be principal, owner-occupied residence; investment/rental/vacation properties do not qualify. Always confirm current-year amount with the local tax assessor.

Elderly/Senior Exemption

Amount: Flat dollar exemption that varies by municipality, e.g., Providence: $750/year for age 65+; some towns (like North Kingstown) also offer income-based 'Flat Elderly' exemptions

Stacks on top of the base homestead/owner-occupied exemption in many towns; eligibility age and income thresholds vary locally.

Veteran / Disabled Veteran / Blind / Disability Exemptions

Amount: Flat dollar exemptions varying by city, e.g., Providence: $306 (veteran/surviving spouse), $614 (100% service-connected disabled veteran), $921 (legally blind), $499 (Social Security disability)

Available to honorably discharged veterans, unmarried surviving spouses of veterans, and residents who are blind or disabled; these exemptions also stack with the homestead exemption and are set independently by each municipality.

Because Rhode Island property taxes are entirely locally administered (no statewide rate or uniform exemption), the "real" rate and exemption for any specific homeowner depends heavily on which of the 39 cities/towns the property is in — always verify current-year figures directly with the local tax assessor's office, since rates and exemption amounts are set annually (the FY2026 rates were published by the RI Division of Municipal Finance in Nov. 2025 based on Dec. 31, 2024 assessed values). Sources: Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org/location/rhode-island), RI Division of Municipal Finance (municipalfinance.ri.gov/financial-tax-data/tax-rates), SmartAsset RI property tax calculator, TaxByCounty.com, and municipal assessor pages for North Kingstown and Providence.

Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.

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