The Rhode Island Survey Initiative

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Photo by: Quintin Soloviev

The Rhode Island Survey Initiative (RISI) is led by the University of Rhode Island’s Harrington School for Communication and Media; the Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy; and the Department of Political Science. RISI receives additional support from the John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service.

The third annual edition (2025) of the Rhode Island survey focuses mainly on housing, with additional questions on current events, policy, public trust, media usage, and more. The survey was administered by YouGov, an international internet-based market research and data analytics firm, from August 1st to August 18th, 2025. The survey has a representative sample size of 500 Rhode Island residents who are 18 years old or above.


Goals

  • Fill a gap in statewide polling by creating consistent, wide-ranging opinion surveys focused on Rhode Island.
  • Provide a tool for policymakers, media, academic researchers, and others interested in key issues affecting the Ocean State.
  • Advance research related to media, communication, political science, and other social science disciplines.
  • Give students opportunities to work alongside faculty experts to identify issues, craft survey questions, and analyze data.


Key Findings

93%Believe housing costs are a problem
72%Support rent stabilization
65%Support sanctioning towns that block affordable housing

Respondents were asked to select their top priorities for the governor and the general assembly*:

62%Healthcare*
51%Housing
41%Roads/bridges
35%Education
26%Aid to the poor
25%Crime
21%Environment protection
9%Clean energy
6%Other
*Respondents could select up to three priorities.

Respondents’ Housing Allocation

64%Own a home
28%Rent
8%Other

“Not In My Backyard”

We asked respondents about their support for building different types of housing at three levels: statewide, in their town, and in their neighborhood. Support was strongest when the question was about Rhode Island as a whole—between 73% and 81% said they supported every type of housing we asked about at that level. But the numbers dropped sharply as housing got closer to home. For example, 42% said they would support new single-family, market-rate homes in their own neighborhood, while only 21% supported public housing and 17% supported homeless shelters nearby.


News

Meet the Team

The Rhode Island Survey Initiative is led by an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students from multiple departments at URI. The team identifies key issues, formulates survey questions, and analyzes results.                                                            

Learn more

The Rhode Island Survey Initiative is a collaboration between the Harrington School of Communication and Media; Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy; Department of Political Science; John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service; and College of Arts and Sciences.

Harrington School of Communication and Media