The Town FilesNorth Kingstown, Rhode Island
Town in Washington County · population 27,732 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $543,700
- Household income
- $126,293
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.2
North Kingstown is a town of 27,732 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $543,700, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks more upscale than 84% of Rhode Island towns, better for cycling than 84% of Rhode Island towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Rhode Island towns.
How North Kingstown ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Kingstown is worth $543,700, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $126,293, which is more affordable than 53% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,268 a month. 74.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Kingstown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $543,700 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,268 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $126,293 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 74.7% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in North Kingstown
| People | North Kingstown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.6% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in North Kingstown
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Kingstown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 18, 1990 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2008.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 14, 2023 | Fire | FM-5464: Queens River Fire |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 59,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in North Kingstown itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in North Kingstown
8 public schools with 3,726 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Kingstown Sr. High | 9-12 | 1,294 | 12.4 |
| Hamilton School | K-5 | 454 | 15.1 |
| Davisville Middle School | 6-8 | 425 | 10.1 |
| Stony Lane El. School | K-5 | 360 | 14.4 |
| Wickford Middle School | 6-8 | 359 | 12.0 |
| Fishing Cove El. School | PK-5 | 334 | 15.2 |
| Forest Park El. School | K-5 | 282 | 14.1 |
| Suzanne M. Henseler Quidnesset | K-5 | 218 | 9.9 |
Towns near North Kingstown
- East Greenwich, RI5.3 mi · 14,312 people · home $671,700
- Jamestown, RI5.4 mi · 5,559 people · home $842,400
- Kingston, RI7.8 mi · 7,825 people · home $553,400
- West Warwick, RI8.3 mi · 31,012 people · home $330,800
- Portsmouth, RI8.7 mi · 17,871 people · home $597,000
- Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI9.1 mi · 8,925 people · home $494,400
- Exeter, RI9.2 mi · 6,460 people · home $509,200
- Warwick, RI9.2 mi · 82,823 people · home $354,600
North Kingstown questions
Is North Kingstown, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Kingstown scores better for retirees than 76% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 57%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in North Kingstown?
The median owner-occupied home in North Kingstown is valued at $543,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $126,293, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,268 a month.
What is the weather like in North Kingstown?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does North Kingstown get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Kingstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 18, 1990. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)