What is the property tax rate in Washington County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Washington County, Rhode Island is approximately 1.30%.

Washington County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Rhode Island Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Washington County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for South Kingstown-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Washington County — including Rhode Island's 100% full-and-fair-cash-value assessment, RI's distinctive structure (NO county government — abolished 1842, the FIRST US state to do so; 39 cities/towns assess, each setting its own rate), the dramatic town-variable homestead exemption (Providence 40% AV reduction, East Providence 14%, Cranston $12,495 fixed, many towns 0%), classified rates in some towns (different rates for owner-occupied vs commercial vs non-owner-occupied), the refundable Property Tax Relief Credit (RI-1040H, up to $675 for 65+/disabled with HHI ≤ $40K), and town-variable veteran exemptions ($1,000 state minimum, some towns provide near-full exemption). RI effective rates run ~1.40% statewide median.

Washington County is part of Rhode Island's town-driven property tax system. Rhode Island assesses at 100% of full and fair cash value. Tax = AV × city/town total rate / 1,000. RI has 39 total municipalities (8 cities + 31 towns) that assess. RI abolished county government in 1842 — the FIRST US state to do so. The 5 counties remain as census/judicial divisions only. Washington's representative effective rate is ~1.30%. RI runs ~1.40% statewide median, with dramatic town-by-town variation.

How the bill is built

Each city/town's assessor determines FMV; RI requires reassessment every 9 years (RI Gen. Laws §44-5-11.6) plus statistical updates between. Tax = FMV × city/town rate / 1,000. Washington's representative rate is ~13 mills (~1.30% effective). Some RI cities/towns use CLASSIFIED rates (different for owner-occupied vs commercial vs non-owner-occupied residential vs personal property). Bills typically issue quarterly (August/November/February/May).

Homestead exemptions are town-variable — no statewide program. Each city/town sets its own. Wide range: Providence offers 40% AV reduction (among the most generous owner-occupied exemptions in the US), East Providence 14%, Cranston $12,495 fixed, many towns 0%. Apply with city/town assessor; deadlines vary by municipality (typically Dec 31 of prior year).

RI Property Tax Relief Credit + town-variable vet exemptions. The Property Tax Relief Credit (form RI-1040H) is a REFUNDABLE state income tax credit up to $675 (2025) for homeowners 65+/disabled with HHI ≤ $40K. Veteran exemptions: state minimums ($1,000 standard / $1,000-$10,000 by disability rating) plus town enhancements — some towns (Providence, Warwick, Newport) provide near-full exemption for 100% P&T disabled, but RI is NOT a categorical full-vet-exemption state.

2026 Washington County rate breakdown (city/town rate per $1,000 of AV (100% full-and-fair-cash-value; cities/towns assess — RI abolished county govt 1842), West Kingston district)

Taxing entity	Rate
City/town owner-occupied residential rate (South Kingstown ~$11.83/$1,000 ~1.05% on higher home values, North Kingstown ~$15.43/$1,000 ~1.25%, Westerly ~$10.91/$1,000 ~1.10%, Narragansett ~$9.09/$1,000 ~0.90%, Charlestown ~$8.18/$1,000 ~0.85%, Hopkinton ~$19.17/$1,000 ~1.65%, Richmond ~$19.78/$1,000 ~1.65%, New Shoreham/Block Island ~$6.70/$1,000 ~0.55% due to substantial commercial/tourism tax base × 100% AR; county avg ~1.30% effective)	13.0000
Combined total	13.0000

Taxing entity

Rate

City/town owner-occupied residential rate (South Kingstown ~$11.83/$1,000 ~1.05% on higher home values, North Kingstown ~$15.43/$1,000 ~1.25%, Westerly ~$10.91/$1,000 ~1.10%, Narragansett ~$9.09/$1,000 ~0.90%, Charlestown ~$8.18/$1,000 ~0.85%, Hopkinton ~$19.17/$1,000 ~1.65%, Richmond ~$19.78/$1,000 ~1.65%, New Shoreham/Block Island ~$6.70/$1,000 ~0.55% due to substantial commercial/tourism tax base × 100% AR; county avg ~1.30% effective)

13.0000

Combined total

13.0000

As of April 27, 2026 · From City and Town Tax Assessors of Washington County / "South County" (no county government — RI abolished county govt 1842; cities and towns assess; informally known as "South County").

Note: Washington County is **southern Rhode Island + the "South County"** + the Atlantic coast + Block Island — anchored by **South Kingstown** (~32K — home of the **University of Rhode Island** in Kingston ~17,000 students, the 1892-founded RI flagship public university + URI Rams athletic identity NCAA Division I + 1,200-acre Kingston campus; plus coastal Wakefield + Snug Harbor village), **North Kingstown** (~28K — home of the **Wickford historic district** the 17th-century maritime village + colonial-era brick + clapboard buildings + **Smith's Castle** the 1678-built American historic house + former **Naval Air Station Quonset Point** the 1939-1974 US Navy Atlantic Fleet home base + **Quonset hut** namesake industrial design), **Westerly** (~23K — coastal town along CT-RI border + Watch Hill village + **Misquamicut State Beach** + annual Westerly **Chamber of Commerce Virtu Art Festival**), **Narragansett** (~14K — **Narragansett Pier** + **The Towers** the 1883-built McKim Mead & White-designed stone Romanesque Revival landmark + Narragansett Town Beach + **Point Judith** lighthouse + **Galilee** fishing village), **Charlestown** (~8K — Atlantic-coast affluent town + **Burlingame State Park**), **Hopkinton** (~8K — rural town), **Richmond** (~8K — rural town), **Exeter** (~7K — rural town + 1742-incorporated town), and **New Shoreham** = **Block Island** (~1K year-round, ~20K+ summer — 1661-founded American island town + **Mohegan Bluffs** + **North Light** + **Old Harbor** + **South East Light** + 30%+ of Block Island permanently protected open space). Major employment includes substantial **University of Rhode Island** (~3,500 employees), **South County Hospital** in Wakefield, the **Quonset Business Park** (the 3,000-acre former Naval Air Station industrial park hosting **General Dynamics Electric Boat** the American submarine builder + 200+ tenants + 12,000+ jobs), substantial coastal tourism, and substantial commercial fishing.

Note: Washington County effective property tax rates run approximately **1.30%** — moderate by Rhode Island standards but with dramatic stratification. **New Shoreham (Block Island) at $6.70/$1,000 (~0.55% effective)** is the lowest in Rhode Island and among the lowest in New England — the substantial Block Island summer tourism + commercial tax base (hotels, restaurants, retail) offsets residential burden. **Charlestown at $8.18/$1,000 + Narragansett at $9.09/$1,000 + Westerly at $10.91/$1,000** are also low — affluent coastal towns with substantial commercial tax base. **Hopkinton + Richmond at $19/$1,000+** are higher — rural towns with limited commercial tax base. Median home values around $445K (the highest in Rhode Island given coastal premium) combined with the moderate effective rate produce median annual bills around $5,785.

Note: For relocation buyers: Washington County offers **the South County coastal + URI + Block Island** option — substantial **University of Rhode Island**-anchored economy, exceptional Atlantic coastal recreation (the **Misquamicut + Narragansett + South Kingstown** beaches the 35+ miles of Rhode Island Atlantic coast, **Block Island** ferry service from Galilee — 1-hour ferry ride to America's 1991 US National Wildlife Refuge America's 1991 **Block Island National Wildlife Refuge**), the **Wickford historic district** colonial-era maritime village, **Watch Hill village** in Westerly (for wealthy summer residents including **Taylor Swift** the American singer-songwriter who owns the **High Watch** 1930-built $17M oceanfront mansion since 2013), and reasonable Boston/NYC reach (Westerly to Boston ~95 mi via I-95, Westerly to NYC ~140 mi via I-95). The trade-off: aggressive coastal housing prices (Watch Hill $5M+, Charlestown affluent $850K+, Narragansett oceanfront $1M+, Block Island $750K+ even for modest properties), substantial seasonal/tourism population variation (Block Island population swings from ~1K winter to ~20K+ summer), distance from major RI urban centers (Westerly to Providence ~50 mi via I-95).

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Rhode Island homeowner property tax relief operates through several mechanisms — primarily through town-variable homestead exemptions (no statewide uniform), plus the State Property Tax Relief Credit on the income tax return, plus partial veteran AV reductions. Rhode Island's primary relief mechanisms: (1) Town homestead exemptions (varies by city/town — Providence 40%, East Providence 14%, Cranston $12,495 fixed, many towns 0%); (2) the State Property Tax Relief Credit (form RI-1040H — refundable RI income tax credit up to $675 for 65+/disabled with HHI ≤ $40K); (3) the Standard Veteran Exemption ($1,000 statewide minimum AV reduction); (4) the Disabled Veteran Exemption ($1,000-$10,000+ AV reduction by VA disability percentage); and (5) town-variable senior exemptions adopted by individual cities and towns.

Town Homestead Exemption (varies by city/town)

Rhode Island has NO statewide homestead exemption. Each city/town adopts its own through local ordinance — wide variation. Providence: 40% residential exemption (one of the most generous owner-occupied exemptions in the US — applied as a percentage AV reduction to qualifying primary residences). East Providence: 14% AV reduction. Cranston: $12,495 fixed. Warwick: varies by classification. Many smaller towns offer no homestead exemption at all. Eligibility: must be owner-occupied primary residence (typically as of December 31 of prior year for the next tax bill). Apply with city/town tax assessor — application deadlines vary by municipality (typically December 31). The 40% Providence exemption saves substantially (e.g., on a $400K home with the Providence rate of $18.48/$1,000 post-exemption, an investor pays ~$7,392 while an owner-occupant on the same property pays ~$4,435 — a $2,957/year owner-occupant savings).

State Property Tax Relief Credit (form RI-1040H)

Rhode Island's structurally distinctive senior/disability relief mechanism — a REFUNDABLE Rhode Island individual income tax credit for property tax (or rent equivalent) paid by homeowners or renters age 65+ or disabled. For 2025 tax year (claimed on 2026 RI income tax return): maximum credit $675, with household income limit at or below ~$40,000 (limit is indexed annually). Claimed on Form RI-1040H with the state income tax return. Paid as state income tax refund regardless of whether income tax is owed. Income limits include Social Security, pensions, IRA distributions — most income types count. The credit is administered by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, not by the cities/towns.

Standard Veteran Exemption (statewide minimum)

$1,000 statewide minimum AV reduction for veterans (~$14 saving at typical rate). Towns may adopt higher amounts. Eligibility: military service during recognized period + DD-214 + RI residency. Apply with city/town assessor by city/town deadline (typically December 31).

Disabled Veteran Exemption (statewide minimum)

$1,000-$10,000+ AV reduction by VA disability percentage (effective saving ~$282-$5,808 at typical rate). 10-25% rating: $1,000-$2,500; 50-75%: $5,000-$10,000; 100% P&T: up to $20,000+ in some towns. Specially Adapted Housing veterans receive separate higher exemption (some towns provide near-full exemption). Gold Star Parent receives $5,808+ exemption. Surviving spouses of qualifying disabled veterans continue to qualify.

Town Senior Exemptions (city/town option)

In addition to the State Property Tax Relief Credit, individual cities and towns may adopt their own senior property tax exemptions through local ordinance. Providence, Cranston, Warwick, and others provide additional senior exemptions on top of the state credit. Check with your city/town tax assessor for current local senior exemption amounts and eligibility.

Appealing your assessment

Rhode Island property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: City/Town Tax Assessor. File written appeal with city/town assessor within 90 days of first installment due date. The assessor must respond within 45 days. Level 2: Local Tax Board of Review (LTBR). Appeal within 30 days of assessor's decision (or after 45-day response window expires). The LTBR is a 3-member board appointed by the city/town. Level 3: Rhode Island Superior Court. Appeal within 30 days of LTBR decision. Most appeals are resolved at Level 1 or 2.

Cities and towns in Washington County

Washington County contains 9 incorporated municipalities, ranging from West Kingston to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Washington County is subject to Washington County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
South Kingstown County seat	town	32,000
North Kingstown	town	28,000
Westerly	town	23,000
Narragansett	town	14,000
Charlestown	town	8,000
Hopkinton	town	8,000
Richmond	town	8,000
Exeter	town	7,000
New Shoreham	town	1,000

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the West Kingston tax district. Other cities in Washington County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the City and Town Tax Assessors of Washington County / "South County" (no county government — RI abolished county govt 1842; cities and towns assess; informally known as "South County") before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Rhode Island property taxes due?

Rhode Island property tax bills are typically issued in 4 quarterly installments per year — most RI cities/towns due August, November, February, and May (exact dates vary by municipality). RI's tax year aligns with the city/town fiscal year (most: July 1 – June 30). Late payments accrue interest at varying rates by municipality. Most homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

Why did Rhode Island abolish county government?

Rhode Island abolished county government in 1842 — the FIRST US state to do so, 118 years before Connecticut's 1960 abolition. The 1842 decision was driven by RI's small geography (smallest US state by area) — counties were redundant given the small distances between cities/towns and the RI capital in Providence. RI's 5 counties (Providence, Kent, Washington, Newport, Bristol) are census/judicial divisions only — there is no county-level tax, no county-level government, no county executive or commission. The 39 RI municipalities (8 cities + 31 towns) handle all functions that counties handle in most other states (assessment, tax collection, schools, social services, etc.).

How does Providence's 40% homestead exemption work?

The City of Providence offers a 40% residential exemption (one of the most generous owner-occupied exemptions in the US) applied as a percentage AV reduction to qualifying primary residences. Eligibility: must be owner-occupied primary residence as of December 31 of prior year. Apply with the City of Providence Assessor's Office — annual application required. The 40% exemption substantially reduces taxes for owner-occupants vs investors/landlords. On a $400,000 home: an investor pays Providence's full residential rate (~$30.80/$1,000 pre-exemption) = ~$12,320; an owner-occupant pays the same rate × 60% of FMV = ~$7,392 — a $4,928/year owner-occupant savings. Note: the rate applied to owner-occupants vs non-owner-occupants is structured slightly differently in Providence's classified rate system; net effect is the same.

Why are Rhode Island effective property tax rates so high?

Rhode Island effective rates run ~1.40% statewide median — above the national average of 1.10%. Three structural reasons: (1) School funding — Rhode Island funds K-12 public education almost entirely through municipal property taxes, so property tax does substantial revenue work. (2) Small-state economics — Rhode Island has only ~1.1M residents but maintains a full state government, court system, and 39 municipalities; property tax is a primary funding source. (3) Limited commercial/industrial tax base in many towns — outside Providence, Newport, and Warwick, many RI municipalities have limited large-scale commercial/industrial property; residential property carries proportionally more of the burden. RI rate stratification within the small state is dramatic — Newport City at $8.20/$1,000 (substantial mansion + commercial + tourism tax base) and Block Island at $6.70/$1,000 (substantial summer tourism tax base) at the low end; Providence at $24+/$1,000 owner-occupied residential and Central Falls at $24+/$1,000 at the high end.

How does Rhode Island's State Property Tax Relief Credit work?

The Property Tax Relief Credit (form RI-1040H) is a REFUNDABLE Rhode Island state income tax credit up to $675 (2025) for homeowners or renters age 65+ or disabled with household income at or below $40,000 (limit indexed annually). Claimed on Form RI-1040H with the state income tax return. Paid as state income tax refund regardless of whether income tax is owed. Income includes Social Security, pensions, IRA distributions — most income types count. The credit is administered by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. In addition, individual cities and towns may adopt their own senior property tax exemptions through local ordinance — Providence, Cranston, Warwick, and others provide additional senior exemptions on top of the state credit.

How does Rhode Island's Disabled Veteran Exemption work?

Rhode Island's veteran exemption is partial AV reduction with significant town variation. The Standard Veteran Exemption is $1,000 statewide minimum AV reduction (~$14 saving at typical rate); towns may adopt higher amounts. The Disabled Veteran Exemption is $1,000-$10,000+ AV reduction by VA disability percentage (10-25% rating: $1,000-$2,500; 50-75%: $5,000-$10,000; 100% P&T: up to $20,000+ in some towns; effective saving ~$282-$5,808 at typical rate). The Specially Adapted Housing Veteran receives separate higher exemption (some towns provide near-full exemption). The Gold Star Parent receives $5,808+ exemption. Surviving spouses of qualifying disabled veterans continue to qualify. Some RI towns (Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Middletown, Newport, North Kingstown) provide near-full exemption for 100% P&T disabled veterans through generous town-level exemptions, but this is NOT statewide policy. Rhode Island does NOT provide a categorical full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans statewide — RI joins the partial-treatment list (CT, NH, NV, UT, KY, ME, VT). Apply with city/town assessor by city/town deadline (typically December 31).

About Washington County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

**Block Island** (officially **New Shoreham**, founded **1661** — 364 years and counting) is **one of the American Atlantic-coast island communities** + **30%+ of Block Island permanently protected open space** (47% per The Nature Conservancy 1991 land-protection initiative + **Block Island National Wildlife Refuge** 1973-founded). The 11-square-mile island geography includes: **Mohegan Bluffs** the 200-foot coastal cliffs at southeastern tip; **Southeast Light** the 1875-built 67-foot lighthouse + 1993 360-foot relocation due to coastal erosion; **North Light** the 1867-built 55-foot lighthouse at northern tip; **Old Harbor** the 1870s-1900s Victorian hotel + commercial district; **Crescent Beach** the 3-mile public beach. The **Block Island ferry** from Galilee (in Narragansett) runs daily 1-hour trips drawing 500,000+ annual passengers. **Watch Hill village** in Westerly is known — **Taylor Swift'sHigh Watch** 1930-built $17M oceanfront 11,000-square-foot mansion (purchased 2013 + annual 4th of July parties drawing celebrity guests + **The Last Great American Dynasty** the 2020 **Folklore** album track about previous High Watch owner **Rebekah Harkness**). The Wickford historic district in North Kingstown continues as the American 17th-century maritime village American historic district. The **University of Rhode Island** in Kingston (founded **1892** as Rhode Island Agricultural College) is known for **17,000+ students** + NCAA Division I **URI Rams** athletic identity + 1,200-acre Kingston campus + **Graduate School of Oceanography** the American 1961-founded American leading oceanography graduate school. The **Naval Air Station Quonset Point** (1939-1974 35-year US Navy Atlantic Fleet home base + namesake of **Quonset hut** semi-cylindrical steel prefabricated industrial building developed 1941 in Quonset Point — American WWII 170,000+ Quonset hut production) is known for the 1974 US Navy decommissioning + subsequent **Quonset Business Park** 3,000-acre industrial park hosting **General Dynamics Electric Boat** the American 1899-founded submarine builder.

Hometown hero

Taylor Swift / URI alumni / countless WC-RI figures

**Taylor Swift** (born 1989 — American 14-time Grammy Award singer-songwriter **Folklore** + **Evermore** + **Midnights** + **The Tortured Poets Department**) is known — **High Watch** $17M oceanfront mansion in Watch Hill village in Westerly RI (purchased 2013 + annual 4th of July parties drawing celebrity guests + **The Last Great American Dynasty** 2020 *Folklore* album track about previous High Watch owner **Rebekah Harkness** the 1915-1982 American oil-heiress philanthropist 1947 marriage to William Hale Harkness Standard Oil heir + 1964-1975 Harkness Ballet foundation). **Other notable Washington County figures** include: **Ann Smith Franklin** (1696-1763 — the American printer + **first** US woman to be officially appointed as state printer in American history 1736-appointed Rhode Island colony official printer + brother **Benjamin Franklin** + lived in Newport but with South County connections); **Thomas Wilson Dorr** (1805-1854 — the American suffrage advocate 1842 **Dorr Rebellion** in RI for white-male suffrage reform — born in Providence with South County political activity); **General Nathanael Greene** (1742-1786 — born in Warwick in Kent County, see Kent — but with South Kingstown mill heritage connections).

Biggest annual event

URI Rams + Block Island ferry + Misquamicut Beach + Wickford historic district

The **University of Rhode Island Rams** athletic annual NCAA Division I **Atlantic 10 Conference** programs (basketball, football, track) draw 100,000+ annual attendees + annual **URI Commencement** drawing 25,000+ attendees. The **Block Island ferry** draws **500,000+ annual passengers** to Block Island. The **Misquamicut State Beach** in Westerly draws 1+ million annual visitors. The **Wickford Art Festival** (annual, July weekend in North Kingstown since 1962) draws 25,000+ attendees over 2 days with 250+ artist booths.

Property Tax in Washington County, 2026