Rhode Island has 25 designated opportunity zones, all of which are low-income communities. Rhode Island did not designate any eligible non-low-income contiguous tracts as opportunity zones.
Urban vs. Rural
The entire state of Rhode Island is classified by the Census Bureau as metropolitan. Therefore, 100 percent of Rhode Island’s opportunity zones are deemed to be in urban areas, with none in rural areas. The majority of the state’s 25 opportunity zones are clustered in the greater Providence area.
Rhode Island Opportunity Zones Map
Analysis of Rhode Island’s Opportunity Zones
| Characteristics | Designated Opportunity Zones | Eligible, nondesignated | All state tracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptives (N) | |||
| Total number of tracts | 25 | 72 | 244 |
| Low-income communities | 25 | 53 | 78 |
| Contiguous | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| Economic (average or average %) | |||
| Median household income | $35,682 | $43,719 | $60,746 |
| Poverty rate | 27.38% | 24.15% | 14.56% |
| Unemployment rate | 10.68% | 10.61% | 7.88% |
| Housing (average or average %) | |||
| Median home value | $198,928 | $214,752 | $251,586 |
| Median rent/month | $878 | $900 | $994 |
| Homeownership | 33.03% | 38.93% | 58.02% |
| Severe rent burden | 28.06% | 24.72% | 22.79% |
| Vacancy rate | 13.41% | 13.17% | 11.05% |
| Demographic (average %) | |||
| White alone | 55.95% | 51.16% | 73.87% |
| Black alone | 10.23% | 11.47% | 5.77% |
| Hispanic | 24.45% | 28.55% | 13.76% |
| Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders alone | 4.02% | 4.39% | 3.29% |
| Younger than 18 | 20.24% | 21.74% | 19.90% |
| Older than 64 | 13.35% | 12.22% | 15.95% |
| Education (average %) | |||
| Age 25+ with high school degree or less | 51.16% | 49.24% | 40.74% |
| Age 25+ with bachelor’s degree or higher | 22.15% | 27.05% | 32.73% |
| Socioeconomic change flag (%) | 4.00% | 2.78% | 1.23% |
| Geography (%) | |||
| In a metro area | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| In a micro area | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Non-core-based statistical area (not in a metro nor micro area) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Data Source: Urban Institute
Rhode Island Counties & Cities
List of counties in Rhode Island: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington
List of top 150 U.S. cities located in Rhode Island: Providence
Census tracts designated as opportunity zones in Rhode Island
Website: Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
| State | County | Census Tract Number | Tract Type | ACS Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Bristol | 44001030500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Bristol | 44001030700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Kent | 44003020200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Newport | 44005040500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007000101 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007000200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007000600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007000800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007001900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007002500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007010400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007011100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007011200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007011800 | Low-Income Community | 2012-2016 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007014700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007015100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007015200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007016100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007016700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007017900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007018000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Providence | 44007018500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Washington | 44009050801 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Washington | 44009051400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Rhode Island | Washington | 44009051504 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |