Down payment assistance income limits in Rhode Island
18 down payment assistance programs in Rhode Island publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both.
Every figure below is the limit the administering agency publishes. Limits are revised as area incomes and local prices move, so confirm current figures with the agency before relying on them.
Area median income by county
HUD's published four-person area median income for each Rhode Island county. A program that sets its limit at a percentage of area median income applies that percentage to the figure for the county where the home is, adjusted for household size.
| County | Published | 4-person median |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 2026 | $112,100 |
| Kent | 2026 | $112,100 |
| Newport | 2026 | $112,100 |
| Providence | 2026 | $112,100 |
| Washington | 2026 | $112,100 |
Published limits by program
| Program | Income limit | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| Central Falls Closing Cost Assistance ProgramCentral Falls · Providence County | 80% of area median incomeIndividual/household total earnings must be at or below 80% of the area median income for Central Falls. | — |
| Church Community Housing Corporation Community Land Trust Homeownership ProgramNewport · Newport County | See programRestricted to low- and moderate-income households; CCHC guarantees future buyers are low-to-moderate-income. Specific income limits/AMI percentage are not published on the official site and vary by funding source and individual development. | — |
| City of Cranston Down Payment Assistance ProgramCranston · Providence County | See programIncome eligibility determined per HUD HOME/CDBG income limits by household size (low- to moderate-income). | — |
| City of Cranston First-Time Homebuyers Closing Cost Assistance ProgramCranston · Providence County | 80% of area median incomeIncome eligibility determined per HUD HOME/CDBG income limits (80% of area median). Cranston limits effective October 3, 2025 (80% of median): 1 person $64,050; 2 $73,200; 3 $82,350; 4 $91,450; 5 $98,800; 6 $106,100; 7 $113,400; 8 $120,750. | — |
| City of Providence Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance ProgramProvidence · Providence County | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) by household size; tier of assistance set at 70% AMI breakpoint. | — |
| City of Woonsocket First Home Down Payment Assistance ProgramWoonsocket · Providence County | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income must not exceed 80% Area Median Income (AMI) for household size per HUD limits for Providence County (e.g., per the 6/2022 application package: 1 person $54,150; 4 persons $77,350; subject to change). | — |
| FHLBank Boston Equity Builder Program (EBP) | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income up to 80% of the area median income (AMI), per FHLBank Boston income calculation guidelines. | — |
| FHLBank Boston Housing Our Workforce (HOW) | 120% of area median incomeIncome more than 80% and up to 120% of AMI (AMI derived from the specific state/city/town); maximum asset cap of $150,000. | — |
| FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership | 120% of area median incomeIncome no more than 120% of AMI as defined by HUD; maximum asset cap of $150,000. | — |
| FirstGenHomeRI Down Payment Assistance | See programMust meet RIHousing Price & Income Limits; eligible communities defined using <80% AMI need. Max purchase price $838,592. | $838,592 |
| RI AnchorHome | 110% of area median incomeHousehold income capped at 110% of statewide income limits. Specific dollar thresholds are set/applied by participating lenders; Treasury page states the cap as 110% of statewide income limits but does not publish a dollar table by household size. | — |
| RI REALTORS Homebuyer Grant | $92,080First-time buyers with qualifying income under $92,080 (subject to change). | — |
| RIHousing 15kDPA Down Payment Assistance | See programMust meet RIHousing Price & Income Limits (Loan Center contact if income <$137,160 1-2 person / <$160,020 3+); max purchase price $838,592. | $838,592 |
| RIHousing Extra Assistance Down Payment & Closing Cost Loan | See programMust meet RIHousing Price & Income Limits (Loan Center contact if income <$137,160 1-2 / <$160,020 3+). Max purchase price $838,592. | $838,592 |
| RIHousing First-time Homebuyer Loan (First Mortgage) | See programLoan Center contact if income <$137,160 (1-2 person) / <$160,020 (3+). Participating Lenders assist at any income. | $838,592 |
| SWAP Inc. Community Land Trust Affordable Homeownership (Build a Buyer)Providence · Providence County | See programRestricted to persons of low and moderate income (per SWAP's mission); specific income limits/AMI percentage are not published on the official site and vary by development and funding source. | — |
| USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program (Rhode Island) | See programAdjusted household income must be at or below the applicable low-income limit for the area (very-low and low-income tiers). RI-specific dollar limits vary by county and household size; use the USDA Income Eligibility lookup (eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov). NOTE: RI dollar table not transcribed here because USDA publishes it via an interactive lookup rather than a static figure on the program page. | — |
| USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program (Rhode Island) | 115% of area median incomeHousehold income may not exceed 115% of area median income. The 2026 national baseline moderate-income limit is $119,850 for households of 1-4 persons and $158,250 for 5-8 persons; RI county-specific limits may be higher and should be verified via the USDA Income Eligibility lookup (eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov). NOTE: income_limit_amount reflects the 2026 national baseline 4-person figure; RI-specific county figures may differ. | — |
Questions, answered
What are the income limits for down payment assistance in Rhode Island?
18 down payment assistance programs in Rhode Island publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both. 9 express the limit as a percentage of the area median income for the county where the home is, and 4 publish a flat dollar figure instead.
Why does the same program have different income limits in different counties?
Because most limits are set as a percentage of area median income, which HUD publishes per county and revises annually. A program with one published percentage therefore admits a different dollar figure in each county, and the figure is further adjusted for household size.
Is a published limit the same as being approved?
No. An income limit is one eligibility rule among several — credit requirements, purchase price caps, occupancy rules and homebuyer education all apply separately, and the first-mortgage lender underwrites on its own terms. Always confirm current figures with the administering agency.
Is Hey Prescott a lender?
No. Hey Prescott is an educational directory of down payment assistance programs. We list programs and link to official sources; we do not make loans or give individualized lending advice.
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