Rhode Islanders Struggle With Living Costs, Housing, Food

Survey finds little improvement in Rhode Islanders' perceptions of well-being, with cost of living and affordable housing major concerns

Feb. 4, 2026 at 11:15pm

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Results from the 2025 R.I. Life Index survey, a partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, show Rhode Islanders continue to face considerable challenges related to cost of living, affordable housing and access to nutritious food. The overall well-being score stood at 57 on a scale of 0 to 100, unchanged from the previous year but down six points since 2021 and at the lowest level since the index began collecting data in 2019.

Why it matters

The R.I. Life Index provides valuable insights into the factors that shape health and quality of life for Rhode Islanders, helping guide research and giving policymakers, community groups and health leaders a clearer target for building healthier, more equitable communities statewide. The persistent low scores highlight the need for action to address the social determinants of health, such as housing affordability and food security, that contribute to health disparities.

The details

The survey found little change in individual categories like quality of community, community life, access to nutritious food, and programs and services for older adults and children. The lowest scores were for cost of living (21) and affordable housing (30). There was also a three-point drop, to 65 in 2025 from 68 in 2024, in perceptions about health care access, with larger declines observed among Black and Latino individuals. The survey also revisited Rhode Islanders' perceptions of their economic situations, with the score declining by three points since 2023 and five points since 2020.

  • The survey was conducted in the first half of 2025, prior to disruptions related to the federal government shutdown and SNAP assistance.
  • The R.I. Life Index has been collecting data since before the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a multi-year perspective on well-being in Rhode Island.

The players

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island

A health insurance provider that partnered with Brown University to create the R.I. Life Index.

Brown University School of Public Health

A research institution that partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island to create the R.I. Life Index and analyze the survey data.

Dr. Francesca Beaudoin

A professor of epidemiology and emergency medicine and interim dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, who commented on the survey findings.

Melissa Clark

A professor of health services, policy and practice, and director of the Survey, Qualitative and Applied Data Research Core at Brown's School of Public Health, who led the team of researchers that designed and managed the 2025 survey.

Martha L. Wofford

The president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, who commented on the survey findings and the organization's role in the R.I. Life Index.

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What they’re saying

“Seven years of results make clear this year isn't just a blip. It's part of a longer pattern, suggesting many people feel the conditions that impact daily life haven't meaningfully changed. That perspective helps guide research and gives policymakers, community groups and health leaders a clearer target for building healthier, more equitable communities statewide.”

— Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, Professor of epidemiology and emergency medicine, and interim dean of the Brown University School of Public Health

“Understanding those challenges through the index enables us to rally around a collective agenda to improve health and well-being for all Rhode Islanders. We're deeply grateful to every community member who shared their perspective and to the R.I. Life Index Coalition members who work every day to create a brighter, heathier future for our state.”

— Martha L. Wofford, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island

What’s next

The R.I. Life Index will continue to be an important tool for tracking the well-being of Rhode Islanders and guiding efforts to address the social determinants of health in the state.

The takeaway

The persistent challenges faced by Rhode Islanders, particularly around the cost of living, affordable housing, and food security, highlight the need for coordinated, community-based efforts to improve health and well-being across the state. The R.I. Life Index provides valuable data to inform these efforts and hold policymakers and community leaders accountable for creating more equitable and livable communities.