Rhode Island Section 538 income limits for FY2026
A Section 538 tenant can earn up to 115% of area median income at move-in. In Rhode Island that limit for a family of four runs from $131,450 in Providence-Fall River, RI-MA to $160,450 in Newport-Middleton-Portsmouth, RI. Limits took effect July 13, 2026.
| Area | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport-Middleton-Portsmouth, RI part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area | 112,300 | 128,350 | 144,400 | 160,450 | 173,300 | 186,100 | 198,950 | 211,800 |
| Providence-Fall River, RI-MA part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area | 92,000 | 105,150 | 118,300 | 131,450 | 141,950 | 152,500 | 163,000 | 173,500 |
| Westerly-Hopkinton-New Shoreham, RI part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area | 103,850 | 118,700 | 133,500 | 148,350 | 160,200 | 172,100 | 183,950 | 195,800 |
From income limit to rent cap
Two rent rules apply under 7 CFR 3565.203. Each unit's rent, counting tenant-paid utilities, can't exceed 30% of 115% of area median income adjusted for family size, which is 30% of the figure in the table for the household size you assume, divided by 12. And across the whole project, the average rent can't exceed 30% of 100% of area median income each year.
Worked example for Newport-Middleton-Portsmouth, RI: the four-person limit is $160,450, so the per-unit cap for a unit sized for four people is $4,011 a month including utilities. The project-average cap uses 100% of median instead of 115%, roughly $3,488 a month at the four-person size. Which household size applies to each bedroom count is set in USDA's program handbook; confirm it with your lender.
Income is tested only at move-in. A tenant whose income later rises above the limit can stay (7 CFR 3565.202(a)). Want to see what those rents support in debt? Run them through the 538 loan sizer.
All 3 Rhode Island areas and every other state in one file: 538 income limits download.