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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:
- Newport
- Narragansett Pier
- Kingston
- Valley Falls
- Wakefield-Peacedale
- Cumberland Hill
- Greenville
- Warwick
- Newport East
- 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
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 |
|---|---|
| Newport | 1 |
| Narragansett Pier | 2 |
| Kingston | 3 |
| Valley Falls | 4 |
| Wakefield-Peacedale | 5 |
| Cumberland Hill | 6 |
| Greenville | 7 |
| Warwick | 8 |
| Newport East | 9 |
| Cranston | 10 |
| Tiverton | 11 |
| Westerly | 12 |
| Woonsocket | 13 |
| Providence | 14 |
| East Providence | 15 |
| Pascoag | 16 |
| Central Falls | 17 |
| Pawtucket | 18 |

