Rhode Island elevation
Rhode Island runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 812 ft at Jerimoth Hill, with an average of about 235 ft.
Highest point: Jerimoth Hill
812ft
248 m above sea level
Jerimoth Hill, Providence County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 235 ft (72 m)
- Mean of 231 USGS points about 4 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Rhode Island places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Providence9 ft
Rhode Island elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Jerimoth Hill | 812 ft (248 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 812 ft (247 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 235 ft (72 m) | USGS 3DEP, 231 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 811 ft (247 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Providence | 9 ft (3 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 1,034 sq mi (2,678 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 235 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (235 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 99 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Rhode Island
- Cranston65 ft
- East Providence61 ft
- Pawtucket39 ft
- Warwick18 ft
- Providence (capital)9 ft
Largest places in Rhode Island
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Providence | 9 ft (3 m) · pop. 194,706 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Cranston | 65 ft (20 m) · pop. 84,448 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Warwick | 18 ft (6 m) · pop. 83,554 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Pawtucket | 39 ft (12 m) · pop. 76,996 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| East Providence | 61 ft (19 m) · pop. 47,961 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Rhode Island?
Jerimoth Hill at 812 ft (248 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Rhode Island?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Rhode Island?
About 235 ft (72 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 231 points on a regular grid about 4 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Rhode Island city on this site is highest?
Providence, at 9 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Rhode Island?
At 235 ft, water boils at about 211.6 °F (99.8 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.67 inHg (1,005 hPa), so each breath holds about 99% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Rhode Island spans 812 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made