Cost of Living in Block Island
Block Island's cost of living runs genuinely, dramatically dominated by its extreme housing costs, even as a real, disclosed low property tax rate applies.
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Learn moreA genuinely, dramatically expensive housing market
Block Island's $2,445,000 median sale price (June 2026) runs far above even Rhode Island's own already-elevated statewide figures, driven by real, genuine land scarcity (base record).
New Shoreham's real, lowest-in-Rhode-Island property tax rate
New Shoreham's $4.26-per-$1,000 (approximately 0.426%) rate is cited as Rhode Island's lowest for 2026 -- though given the island's dramatically high home values, the resulting dollar tax bill still runs substantial (base record).
Rhode Island's real 5.99% top income tax rate, flat 7% sales tax
Rhode Island's real, current three-bracket income tax (topping out at 5.99%) and flat, no-local-add-on 7% sales tax apply on Block Island as they do statewide (base record).
Real, seasonally elevated costs beyond housing
Block Island's ferry-dependent supply chain and dramatic seasonal tourism swing plausibly elevate day-to-day goods and services costs, though this record did not find a specific, confirmed cost-of-living index distinct from Rhode Island's own statewide figures this pass -- a real, disclosed gap.
Key takeaways
- Block Island's housing cost dominates its overall cost of living, running dramatically above Rhode Island's own elevated statewide figures.
- New Shoreham's property tax rate is cited as Rhode Island's lowest, though the dollar bill still runs meaningful given elevated home values.
- Rhode Island's 5.99% top income tax rate and flat 7% sales tax both apply on Block Island.
- A Block Island-specific cost-of-living index beyond housing was not confirmed this pass -- a real, disclosed gap.
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