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Best Cities for Rental Property in Rhode Island

3 Rhode Island cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Rhode Island markets is 2.5%, with median home prices averaging $505K and rents averaging $2,090/mo. Warwick leads with a 2.5% cap rate at a $505K median price. Property taxes average 1.42% across Rhode Island markets.

2.5%
Avg Cap Rate
$505K
Avg Price
$2,090/mo
Avg Rent
3
Cities Tracked

Rhode Island Rental Market Analysis

Rhode Island offers 3 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 2.5% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Rhode Island home prices average $505K, which is 51% above the national average of $333K. Rents average $2,090/mo.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.42% across Rhode Island, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Warwick has the lowest rate at 1.4%.Vacancy averages 5.1%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Rhode Island averages 0.17% per year, led by Providence at 0.2%. Home values are appreciating at 2.7% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Rhode Island is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Rhode Island Compares to National Averages

Metric
Rhode Island
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
2.5%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$505K
$333K
Avg Rent
$2,090/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.42%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.1%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.17%/yr
0.92%/yr

Rhode Island Cities by Cap Rate Tier

Below 3% (3)

All 3 Rhode Island Cities Ranked

1
Warwick, RI2.5% cap rate
$505K median$2,090/mo rent1.4% tax0.1% growth
2
Providence, RI2.5% cap rate
$505K median$2,090/mo rent1.42% tax0.2% growth
3
Cranston, RI2.5% cap rate
$505K median$2,090/mo rent1.44% tax0.2% growth

Other Northeast States

New York (24 cities · 4.2% avg)Delaware (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Pennsylvania (30 cities · 3.8% avg)Maine (4 cities · 3.5% avg)Massachusetts (8 cities · 3.0% avg)Connecticut (8 cities · 2.9% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rhode Island a good state for rental property investing?
Rhode Island has an average cap rate of 2.5% across 3 cities. The best-performing city is Warwick at 2.5%. Average home prices of $505K are above the national average. Property taxes at 1.42% are moderate.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Rhode Island?
Warwick leads Rhode Island with a 2.5% cap rate, $505K median price, and $2,090/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Providence (0.2% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Rhode Island?
Property taxes in Rhode Island average 1.42%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Warwick at 1.4%. On an average-priced home of $505K, annual taxes are approximately $7,171.
How many Rhode Island cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 3 Rhode Island cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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