What are the schools like in Kingston, RI?

Kingston is served primarily by The Compass School. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Kingston?

The median household income in Kingston, RI is $108,056 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.0%.

What is the weather like in Kingston, RI?

Kingston has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

Kingston, RI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kingston, RI affordable or expensive?

Kingston's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kingston is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $458,600 and the median rent is N/A per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kingston, RI?

Kingston has a violent crime rate of 24.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 221.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kingston, RI a Good Place to Live?

Kingston is a small town of 6,560 in Rhode Island, with a median household income of $108,056 and a 11.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Kingston stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kingston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kingston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Kingston's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kingston costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Kingston, RI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$458,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$108,056	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kingston's violent crime rate is 24.7 per 100,000 residents — 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

24.7 /100k

Property Crime

221.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kingston is served primarily by The Compass School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kingston, RI	National Avg
School District	The Compass School	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	76.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kingston sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July, with 51.6 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kingston, RI
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	80.3°F
Annual Precipitation	51.6"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Kingston, RI	National Avg
Population	6,560	—
Median Age	19.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.7%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	5.9%	22.2%
65 and over	4.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI 2 mi Narragansett Pier, RI 4 mi Carolina, RI 7 mi Charlestown, RI 8 mi Wyoming, RI 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Kingston

Kingston, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

02881

Kingston vs Other Cities

Kingston, RI vs Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI Kingston, RI vs Narragansett Pier, RI Kingston, RI vs Carolina, RI Kingston, RI vs Charlestown, RI Kingston, RI vs Wyoming, RI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kingston, RI affordable or expensive?

Kingston's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kingston roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $458,600 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Kingston, RI?

Kingston's violent crime rate is 24.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 221.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kingston?

Public schools in Kingston are operated by The Compass School. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 76.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kingston, RI a good place to live?

Kingston, RI has a population of 6,560, a median household income of $108,056, and an unemployment rate of 11.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Kingston?

Kingston averages 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.6 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kingston?

Kingston, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 02881.

What is the population of Kingston?

The population of Kingston, Rhode Island is 6,560 with a median age of 19.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kingston?

Key numbers for living in Kingston: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $458,600, median household income $108,056, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kingston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.