Compare states / Rhode Island
RI
Compare Rhode Island with other states
With about 1.1 million residents, Rhode Island is the 7th-least populous state (1,082 people per square mile). Wages are taxed at a top rate of 5.99%; its effective property-tax rate of 1.19% is tied for the 14th-highest among the 50 states. Housing is expensive: the median home value of $508,519 is the 10th-highest nationally. It is one of 8 states that can tax Social Security benefits.
Data: Rhode Island (tax.ri.gov, dmv.ri.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Top listed rate 5.99% |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 7.00% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 1.19% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | No statewide annual vehicle personal-property tax |
| Social Security tax | Exempt if you have reached Social Security full retirement age and federal AGI is below $107,000 (single, head of household, or married filing separately) or $133,750 (joint or qualifying surviving spouse) for tax year 2025. Limits are inflation-adjusted. |
| Estate tax | For 2026 deaths, Rhode Island’s estate tax threshold is $1,838,056 (credit $87,940). The credit and threshold are inflation-adjusted each year. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $16.00. |
| Median home value | $508,519 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 7.00% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $50.00 |
| Registration (base) | $30.00 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 13 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 0 |
| Population | 1,118,627 |
| Population density | 1,082.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 69.3% White (non-Hispanic) 17.1% Hispanic 8.5% Black 3.6% Asian |
| Violent crime | 153.6 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Rhode Island
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 5.99%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Rhode Island
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 7.00% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Rhode Island
- Get an RI driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Rhode Island.
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Rhode Island elections site.
- Nurse license: Rhode Island is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Rhode Island: September 1. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Rhode Island compares
Top listed income-tax rate: 5.99% in Rhode Island vs 13.3% in California (lower in Rhode Island).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Rhode Island are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Rhode Island Social Security tax.
- Estate tax. Rhode Island estate tax.
- Inheritance tax. Rhode Island has no state inheritance tax (RI tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Rhode Island $16.00.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Rhode Island 7.00%.
- State parks. Rhode Island 13. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; RI 0).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (RI).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Rhode Island 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Rhode Island 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled