Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing “information-based advocacy to achieve equitable public policies and programs for the improvement of children’s lives.” Part of this work includes publishing an annual Factbook that uses data to tell the story of Rhode Island’s families and children, focusing on indicators like family and community, economic well-being, health, and more.
Here are just a few points illustrated in the 2025 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook, which is available to read here. All of these data points are specific to Providence, while the Factbook is statewide.
2,107 — The number of births recorded in Providence in 2024.
41,021 — The number of Providence residents under the age of 18 in 2020; which amounts to about 22% of the city’s population in that year.
$67,505 — The median family income for families with children under age 18, based on data from 2019-2023.
54% — The percent of income needed for average rent costs (2-bedroom apartment) for families deemed “very low-income” ($50,600 annual income or less). Individuals are considered cost-burdened if housing costs exceed 30% of their income.
408 — The number of children identified as homeless by public school personnel in Providence during the 2023-2024 school year.
26% — The percent of children in Providence who live in poverty, according to data from 2019-2023.
2,571 — The number of children receiving cash assistance through RI Works in December 2024
16,173 — The number of children under age 18 receiving SNAP benefits as of October 2024.
36% — The percent of eligible women, infants, and children enrolled in WIC in September 2024. The Factbook notes the underutilization of WIC services by eligible residents and recommends “Allowing WIC applicants and participants the option of telephone video conference appointments for enrollments,” rather than requiring in-person visits.
44% — The percent of Providence high school students in the 2023-2024 school year who were chronically absent. The term chronic absence is defined here as students who were enrolled for at least 90 days and missed at least 10% of the days they were enrolled, including excused and unexcused absences and out-of-school suspensions.
Dana Schneider is a writer living in Elmwood with her cat, Froggy. She has a background in both public policy and poetry and is interested in how we experience daily life within and despite the structures around us.
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