Fastest Growing Counties in Rhode Island (2026)

County
Rank
Change (2020)
2026 Pop.
2020 Pop.
Providence County15.04%693,298660,044
Kent County21.99%173,810170,423
Washington County30.58%130,521129,769
Bristol County4-2.1%49,71950,783
Newport County5-3.27%82,71885,511

Rhode Island Counties Growth Overview

Rhode Island's counties show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2026. Providence County leads with 0.82% annualized growth, followed by Kent County (0.33%) and Washington County (0.1%). The largest counties are Providence County (693,298), Kent County (173,810), and Washington County (130,521). Of the 5 counties in Rhode Island, 3 are growing while 2 have experienced population decline. Overall, counties averaged 0.07% annualized growth, with total population growing by 0.5% annually.

Change (2020)

-0.05

-0.025

0

0.025

0.05

0.075