Newport, RI — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Newport County · Providence-Warwick · population 24,482

InvestorsShrinkingSmall-town feel
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77
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Newport stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 8.8% in the last year. averaging 8.3% annual growth over 5 years. population shrinking 0.7% per year. rents up 10.5% in the last year.

Median home $945,429
1-year +8.8%
5-yr CAGR +8.3%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$945k$393k$590k$786k$983k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
46/100
Marginal for remote
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$3,281/mo$1,832$2,655$3,478202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent149151100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 24.0
Lean rent

At a 24.0 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Newport. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
88 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
80 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
35 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
83 · w10%
Long thesis

Newport has averaged 8.3% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+8.8% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Newport's population is shrinking 0.7% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Newport

Newport is a city in Newport County, Rhode Island, with an estimated population of 24,482. It anchors the Providence-Warwick metro area. The population has contracted 0.7% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Newport is $945,429 as of 2026-04, up 8.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Newport average $3,281 per month, up 10.5% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 77 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.3% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
Trend still working: prices up 8.8% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Hot rental market: rents up 10.5% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

Bear case

Flat or shrinking population: -0.7% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
Premium territory: $945,429 median home is a high bar to clear — affordability constrains the buyer pool.
Rental squeeze: rents up 10.5% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Newport County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Newport County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Newport

15 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Ocean Drive$2,556,532+16.8%
2Lily/Almy Pond$1,900,011+6.9%
3Historic Hill$1,336,149-1.7%
4The Point$1,186,542-8.4%
5Old Beach$1,152,431+10.1%
6Harbor/Lower Thames$1,136,673+7.8%
7Bellevue Avenue and Estates$1,090,641+4.1%
8Kay/Catherine$1,087,330+11.7%
9Memorial Boulevard$1,042,725+8.8%
10Fifth Ward$988,225+10.3%
11Eustis/Easton's Pond$968,957+4.8%
12Downtown$738,593+9.0%
13Broadway$733,508+0.5%
14Kerry Hill/Van Zandt$690,277+2.8%
15North End$577,930+0.4%

Cities like Newport

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
37° / 22°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
82° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
198
~54% of year
Annual precip
48″ rain
30″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Moderate
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Providence-Warwick area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Newport listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$81,800
Rhode Island state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareEducationManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.