The town named the poorest in Rhode Island is Central Falls. According to the most recent data, Central Falls has a median household income of $43,092—significantly lower than the state median of $81,370—and a poverty rate of 24.4%, which is the highest among all cities and towns in Rhode Island.
While other cities like Providence, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket also have high poverty rates and are often cited in discussions of poverty and food insecurity in the state, Central Falls stands out for having both the lowest median income and the highest percentage of residents living below the poverty line.
Key facts:
- Central Falls
- Median household income: $43,092
- Poverty rate: 24.4% (Rhode Island state average: 11.2%)
This makes Central Falls the poorest town in Rhode Island as of 2025.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rhode_Island_locations_by_per_capita_income
- https://zipatlas.com/us/ri/city-comparison/highest-poverty.htm
- https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/_social/poverty/table?statefips=44&demo=00009
- https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/Narratives/Overview/a9e6648f-c775-41be-816f-9fcd5d995b5c