Rhode Island Flood and Water Damage Risk by Town
Water damage risk in Rhode Island depends on three things you can look up: how old the homes are, how many sit empty part of the year, and whether the town has a documented record of river or coastal flooding. This guide puts all three in one place for all 39 cities and towns, with every figure linked to its source.
Published October 20, 2026 · Census data: ACS 2020-24 5-year estimates
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Key findings
Newport and Providence both have a median home built in 1938. More than half their homes predate 1940, followed by Central Falls (48%), Warren (45%), Pawtucket (43%) and Woonsocket (41%).
About 75% of Block Island homes are seasonal. Charlestown (33%), Narragansett (32%) and Little Compton (31%) follow. Empty houses are where frozen pipes and slow leaks go unnoticed longest.
The Pawtuxet River at Cranston crested at 20.79 feet on March 31, 2010, far above its previous record of 15.1 feet.
Source: National Weather ServiceState planners ranked East Providence 6th and Portsmouth 7th in Rhode Island for road exposure to storm surge.
Source: RI Statewide Planning, East Providence · Source: PortsmouthHousing age and seasonal homes in all 39 towns
Older homes are more likely to have original supply lines, cast-iron drains and stone or block foundations. Seasonal homes are more likely to have a leak go unnoticed for weeks. Tap a column heading to sort. Linked towns have a local guide with flood history and common questions.
| Town | County | Median year built | Built 1939 or earlier | Seasonal homes | Housing units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington | Bristol | 1956 | 28% | 2% | 6,498 |
| Block Island (New Shoreham) | Washington | 1972 | 26% | 75% | 1,989 |
| Bristol | Bristol | 1964 | 28% | 3% | 9,510 |
| Burrillville | Providence | 1970 | 26% | 3% | 6,344 |
| Central Falls | Providence | 1944 | 48% | 0% | 8,426 |
| Charlestown | Washington | 1980 | 13% | 33% | 5,458 |
| Coventry | Kent | 1973 | 13% | 1% | 15,430 |
| Cranston | Providence | 1958 | 29% | 0% | 33,834 |
| Cumberland | Providence | 1972 | 14% | 1% | 14,918 |
| East Greenwich | Kent | 1976 | 16% | 2% | 5,690 |
| East Providence | Providence | 1958 | 28% | 0% | 21,921 |
| Exeter | Washington | 1987 | 6% | 0% | 2,528 |
| Foster | Providence | 1975 | 20% | 2% | 1,579 |
| Glocester | Providence | 1975 | 12% | 5% | 4,306 |
| Hopkinton | Washington | 1977 | 19% | 4% | 3,715 |
| Jamestown | Newport | 1975 | 28% | 15% | 3,103 |
| Johnston | Providence | 1968 | 14% | 0% | 12,328 |
| Lincoln | Providence | 1970 | 21% | 0% | 9,006 |
| Little Compton | Newport | 1969 | 21% | 31% | 2,340 |
| Middletown | Newport | 1969 | 17% | 7% | 8,225 |
| Narragansett | Washington | 1975 | 12% | 32% | 9,757 |
| Newport | Newport | 1938 | 58% | 11% | 13,552 |
| North Kingstown | Washington | 1973 | 14% | 2% | 12,641 |
| North Providence | Providence | 1970 | 19% | 0% | 15,555 |
| North Smithfield | Providence | 1972 | 19% | 0% | 5,240 |
| Pawtucket | Providence | 1947 | 43% | 1% | 32,810 |
| Portsmouth | Newport | 1973 | 15% | 9% | 8,612 |
| Providence | Providence | 1938 | 55% | 0% | 79,423 |
| Richmond | Washington | 1985 | 20% | 2% | 3,214 |
| Scituate | Providence | 1966 | 25% | 0% | 4,401 |
| Smithfield | Providence | 1976 | 15% | 0% | 8,220 |
| South Kingstown | Washington | 1978 | 19% | 14% | 13,993 |
| Tiverton | Newport | 1972 | 16% | 5% | 7,831 |
| Warren | Bristol | 1950 | 45% | 5% | 5,607 |
| Warwick | Kent | 1961 | 21% | 0% | 37,516 |
| West Greenwich | Kent | 1991 | 9% | 2% | 2,624 |
| West Warwick | Kent | 1968 | 26% | 0% | 15,269 |
| Westerly | Washington | 1973 | 22% | 15% | 13,090 |
| Woonsocket | Providence | 1952 | 41% | 0% | 19,429 |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25035 (median year built), B25034 (year built) and B25004 (seasonal vacancy), retrieved via Census Reporter. Estimates carry margins of error, especially in smaller towns; a 0% seasonal figure means the survey estimate rounded to zero.
Documented river floods
Record crest of 20.79 feet at Cranston. In Warwick, the river overtopped the sewer plant berm and the Warwick Mall flooded. About 140 Cranston homes were evacuated.
Source: NWS · Source: USA Today Network · Source: NPRThe Pawcatuck at Westerly crested at a record 15.38 feet on March 30, 2010. USGS found peak flows on the Pawcatuck and Wood rivers generally exceeded the 0.2-percent annual chance (500-year) flood.
Source: USGS · Source: USGSThe Pawtuxet reached major flood stage at Cranston twice in three weeks, on December 18, 2023 and January 11, 2024. In Johnston, Pocasset River flooding displaced about 30 apartment tenants and cut off Belfield Drive.
Source: Boston Globe · Source: Boston GlobeDocumented coastal storms
Surge reached more than 13 feet in parts of downtown Providence. In Portsmouth, a surge of roughly 12 feet destroyed much of Island Park. In Westerly, 369 homes were destroyed in Misquamicut.
Source: GoLocalProv · Source: East Bay RI · Source: See WesterlyCarol struck Newport with winds near 115 mph and left much of Providence under more than 8 feet of water, leading to the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, completed in 1966.
Source: What’sUpNewp · Source: GoLocalProvSandy buried Atlantic Avenue in Misquamicut under sand, undermined about 1,800 feet of Corn Neck Road on Block Island, and led East Providence to urge evacuations around Bullock’s Cove and Sabin Point.
Source: Hey Rhody · Source: State of RI · Source: PatchWhat official sources recommend
- Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage; flood coverage is sold separately through the NFIP or private insurers. (Triple-I)
- A new NFIP flood policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, so buy before storm season, not during it. (FloodSmart)
- Drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours of a leak prevents mold growth in most cases. (EPA)
- Keep heat at no lower than 55°F in a home you’re away from in winter. (American Red Cross)
- Look up the official flood zone for any address. (FEMA Flood Map Service Center)
Common questions
Which Rhode Island towns have the oldest homes?
Census estimates put the median home in both Newport and Providence at 1938. Newport has the highest share built in 1939 or earlier, about 58%, followed by Providence at about 55% and Central Falls at about 48%.
Which Rhode Island towns have the most seasonal homes?
Block Island (New Shoreham) leads by far, with about 75% of homes held for seasonal use. Charlestown, Narragansett and Little Compton are each around 31 to 33%.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Rhode Island?
Triple-I says standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage. Flood coverage is sold separately through the NFIP or private insurers, and FloodSmart says a new NFIP policy generally takes 30 days to take effect.
Using this guide
Journalists, town officials, insurance agents and community groups are welcome to use the data on this page. Please credit and link to “RI Water Damage Help, Rhode Island Flood and Water Damage Risk by Town.” The housing table is based on public Census data and may be reused under CC BY 4.0. Corrections: help@riwaterdamage.com.
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