Happy Friday! I'm Dan McGowan, and the Dodgers look unbeatable right now. Follow me on X (Twitter) @DanMcGowan, on Bluesky @DanMcGowan, or send tips to
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Assuming Zohran Mamdani goes on to win the New York City mayoral race next month, “affordability” will officially be the word of the year for 2025 – and it’s undoubtedly going to play a major role in elections across the country next year.
Now HousingWorks RI is out with a new report that puts Rhode Island’s housing affordability challenges into sharp focus, with an alarming warning that there is no municipality in the state where a household earning the median homeowner income of $112,858 can affordably buy a house.
The 2025 Housing Fact Book is worth a read for everyone – especially anyone thinking about running for office next year. You can find it here.
And here’s a breakdown of the annual income needed to affordably purchase a median-priced home in each city or town. The list is from highest to lowest.
New Shoreham
$521,723
Jamestown
$357,068
Newport
$307,638
Little Compton
$277,754
Narragansett
$265,655
East Greenwich
$264,823
Barrington
$249,379
Middletown
$226,456
Portsmouth
$219,420
North Kingstown
$208,277
West Greenwich
$205,191
South Kingstown
$203,920
Scituate
$195,514
Charlestown
$192,703
Bristol
$191,440
Lincoln
$184,485
Westerly
$179,238
Exeter
$176,994
Smithfield
$175,692
Warren
$174,943
Cumberland
$174,864
Foster
$172,320
North Smithfield
$167,628
Hopkinton
$154,177
Johnston
$151,711
Glocester
$151,230
Richmond
$150,477
Providence
$150,153
Tiverton
$149,159
Burrillville
$147,618
Cranston
$145,849
North Providence
$144,483
East Providence
$143,048
Coventry
$140,262
Warwick
$138,786
Central Falls
$138,153
West Warwick
$137,878
Woonsocket
$131,652
Pawtucket
$128,635
Of course, if you do have the means, there’s a $22 million mansion in Newport that just hit the market, as my colleague Chris Gavinreports.
🤔 So you think you're a Rhode Islander...
Today's question comes from Jessa Leinaweaver: What 1987 sporting event in Rhode Island led the NCAA to ban vuvuzelas?
(Answer at the bottom.)
Do you have the perfect question for Rhode Map readers? Don't forget to send the answer, too. Shoot me an email today.
The Globe in Rhode Island
⚓ My latest column: St. Mary's Church in Newport, where John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier exchanged wedding vows, needs a facelift. Read more.
⚓ The US District Court in Rhode Island handles cases from the nation’s smallest state, but it’s playing an outsized role in major legal challenges to Trump administration decisions affecting billions of dollars in federal funding for everything from education to transportation, from wind power to crime victims. Read more.
⚓ Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said he is about to send the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence a report that shows the church “did not respond well” to accusations of clergy sexual abuse of children over the past 70 years. Read more.
⚓ Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns came to the Rhode Island State House on Thursday to preview his upcoming series, “The American Revolution,” highlighting the key roles that Rhode Islanders played in the fight for independence. Read more.
⚓ In an opinion piece for Globe Rhode Island, Roger Williams School of Law Dean Greg Bowman writes that tariffs are bringing higher costs and uncertainty to New England. Read more.
🎂 Rhode Map readers have sent another round of Happy Birthday wishes to: Susan Dillon, Buff Chace (78), Kathleen Layton (50), US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Kristin Sullivan, Don Sullivan (80), Etie-Lee Z. Schaub, Will Farrell, Mike Halloran, Jenn Steinfeld, Kristin Murphy, Nick Kettle, Gara Field, Jeremy Chiappetta, Marisol Garcia, Kyle Remy, Julian Remy, Karen Kemp, Lesley Bunnell, Tom Paolino, Donna Vierra Rattigan, Mary Lennon Arafeh, State Representative David Place, Joseph Casoli, Brian Sit, Linda Richard, Ceasare’ Rivas, Bettyann Broady-Silvaggio, and Jillian Scott.
You can check out all of our coverage at Globe.com/RI
Also in the Globe
⚓ Because of the shutdown, lawmakers and staffers in 10 congressional offices across New England said their constituents are struggling to get answers from the federal government to vital questions, including the status of necessities such as housing, health care, and food assistance. Read more.
⚓ Former Massachusetts Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III on Thursday stood by his call last month for his uncle, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to resign from office and criticized the Trump administration’s approach to health care policy. Read more.
⚓ At 4-2, the Patriots are tied for the best record in the AFC East. They also have the third-softest schedule in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference’s simple rating system. And things might get easier. Read more.
⚓ Track 15 in Providence is hosting Harvest Fest tonight and tomorrow.
⚓ Sports weekend: Brown football hosts Princeton tomorrow at noon. URI football travels to Albany at 3:30 p.m. No. 2 ranked Bryant men's soccer travels to Binghamton at 6 p.m.
🏆 Pop quiz answer
The NCAA banned the plastic horns following a 1987 hockey game between Brown and RPI.
RHODE ISLAND REPORT PODCAST Ed Fitzpatrick talks to Maya Lehrer about the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Coalition's response to ICE raids. Listen to all of our podcasts here.
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