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These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Rhode Island

By Chris Kolmar
May. 18, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 2, 2026

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Top 10 Hardest Working Places in Rhode Island (2026)

Rhode Island, known for its rich history and vibrant communities, exemplifies the American spirit of hard work and dedication. In today’s evolving job market, where remote and hybrid work models are prevalent, the commitment to labor remains strong across the state.

While every corner of Rhode Island showcases a robust work ethic, certain areas stand out as the hardest working in the Ocean State. Newport, for instance, takes the lead as the hardest working place in Rhode Island, with residents balancing work and life amidst scenic views and rich culture.

Curious about which other towns are known for their relentless dedication? Here’s a list of places where residents are putting in the effort to achieve their career goals:

  1. Newport
  2. Narragansett Pier
  3. Kingston
  4. Valley Falls
  5. Wakefield-Peacedale
  6. Cumberland Hill
  7. Greenville
  8. Warwick
  9. Newport East
  10. Cranston

Pawtucket, take note! There are valuable lessons to be learned from these hardworking communities.

For more insights on Rhode Island’s job market, explore:

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in the Ocean State

At Zippia, we leverage data to tackle the tough questions about labor dynamics. To analyze the hardest working towns in Rhode Island, we utilized the latest American Community Survey data.

We focused on several key factors, which include:

  • Average hours worked
  • Average commute time
  • Workers per household (Employed labor force divided by the number of households)
  • Labor force participation rate
  • Adults with a college degree

Our methodology involved ranking each of Rhode Island’s municipalities based on these criteria, with a lower score indicating a higher level of hard work. The towns were then averaged to create a comprehensive hardworking index.

Ultimately, Newport emerged as the top performer, showcasing the strong work ethic prevalent in the area.

Refer to the detailed chart below for insights into each town’s rankings.

1. Newport

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 24,599College Graduates: 49.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.0
Workers Per Household: 1.4

2. Narragansett Pier

Population: 3,749College Graduates: 59.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.1

3. Kingston

Population: 7,136College Graduates: 69.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 26.6
Workers Per Household: 4.0

4. Valley Falls

Population: 12,108 College Graduates: 28.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.5
Workers Per Household: 1.5

5. Wakefield-Peacedale

Population: 8,911 College Graduates: 48.9%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.1
Workers Per Household: 1.4

6. Cumberland Hill

Population: 8,194 College Graduates: 35.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.0
Workers Per Household: 1.3

7. Greenville

Population: 8,596 College Graduates: 33.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.1
Workers Per Household: 1.4

8. Warwick

Population: 82,065College Graduates: 30.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.0
Workers Per Household: 1.3

9. Newport East

Population: 10,953College Graduates: 35.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.8
Workers Per Household: 1.3

10. Cranston

Population: 80,680College Graduates: 29.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.6
Workers Per Household: 1.4

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in Rhode Island

City Rank Population College Graduates Average Hours Worked Per Week Workers Per Household
Newport 1 24,599 49.7% 39.0 1.4
Narragansett Pier 2 3,749 59.3% 39.7 1.1
Kingston 3 7,136 69.4% 26.6 4.0
Valley Falls 4 12,108 28.3% 37.5 1.5
Wakefield-Peacedale 5 8,911 48.9% 36.1 1.4
Cumberland Hill 6 8,194 35.3% 37.0 1.3
Greenville 7 8,596 33.7% 36.1 1.4
Warwick 8 82,065 30.3% 38.0 1.3
Newport East 9 10,953 35.5% 37.8 1.3
Cranston 10 80,680 29.6% 37.6 1.4
Tiverton 11 7,300 28.7% 37.7 1.3
Westerly 12 17,984 28.4% 38.0 1.2
Woonsocket 13 41,136 14.0% 37.8 1.1
Providence 14 178,562 28.6% 35.6 1.5
East Providence 15 47,166 25.9% 38.0 1.3
Pascoag 16 4,310 14.5% 39.0 1.2
Central Falls 17 19,406 8.0% 36.2 1.4
Pawtucket 18 71,313 17.4% 37.2 1.4
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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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