What kinds of homes are in Providence, RI?

Name: Types of homes in Providence, RI, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Providence, RI has 79,423 (±1,256) homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is about 4,315 homes per square mile of land.

26.1% are detached single-family houses.

44.8% are in buildings of two to four units.

25.0% are in buildings of five or more units.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Housing units: 79,423 (±1,256)
Detached houses: 26.1%
2–4 unit buildings: 44.8%
5+ unit buildings: 25.0%

Homes in Providence by building size

Housing units by units in structure, 2020–2024
Building type	Providence	Providence County	Rhode Island	United States
Single-family, detached	26.1% (±1.4 points)	45.5%	55.7%	61.3%
Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse)	3.9% (±0.7 points)	3.9%	4.0%	6.2%
2 units	19.4% (±1.4 points)	13.2%	10.4%	3.4%
3 or 4 units	25.4% (±1.7 points)	16.3%	11.6%	4.3%
5 to 9 units	6.7% (±1.0 points)	5.9%	4.8%	4.5%
10 to 19 units	3.2% (±0.6 points)	3.6%	3.4%	4.3%
20 or more units	15.1% (±1.2 points)	11.2%	9.1%	10.3%
Mobile home	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.9%	5.6%
Boat, RV, van, etc.	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%

In Providence, the share of homes in buildings of five or more units is higher than in Providence County (20.7%).

It is also higher than in Rhode Island (17.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (19.1%).

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units in places near Providence

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Providence
Place	Distance	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units	Compared with this place
Providence	—	25.0% (±1.7 points)	—
North Providence	3.3 mi	27.4% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different
East Providence	3.4 mi	21.9% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Pawtucket	4.3 mi	21.4% (±2.1 points)	Lower
Central Falls	4.8 mi	19.6% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Cranston	5.0 mi	15.7% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Johnston	5.2 mi	12.3% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Seekonk	5.3 mi	4.6% (±2.3 points)	Lower
North Seekonk	6.2 mi	1.6% (±5.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Pawtucket, RI (21.4%), Central Falls, RI (19.6%), Cranston, RI (15.7%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units across Providence County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units
1	Woonsocket	31.9% (±3.2 points)
2	North Providence	27.4% (±3.6 points)
3	Providence	25.0% (±1.7 points)
4	East Providence	21.9% (±2.7 points)
5	Pawtucket	21.4% (±2.1 points)
6	Central Falls	19.6% (±4.5 points)
7	Lincoln	18.0% (±3.6 points)
8	North Smithfield	16.9% (±5.1 points)
9	Smithfield	16.7% (±4.2 points)

Showing 9 of 16 places in Providence County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Providence

How many homes are in Providence?

Providence, RI has an estimated 79,423 (±1,256) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Are most homes in Providence houses or apartments?

26.1% are detached houses and 3.9% attached houses, while 69.8% are in buildings of two or more units.

How many two-family and small multifamily homes are in Providence?

44.8% of homes in Providence are in buildings of two to four units, the small rental buildings that are often owner-occupied.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Providence city, Rhode Island

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Providence city, Rhode Island (place:59000, in state:44).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0007PE, DP04_0007PM, DP04_0008PE, DP04_0008PM, DP04_0009PE, DP04_0009PM, DP04_0010PE, DP04_0010PM, DP04_0011PE, DP04_0011PM, DP04_0012PE, DP04_0012PM, DP04_0013PE, DP04_0013PM, DP04_0014PE, DP04_0014PM, DP04_0015PE, DP04_0015PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.