How Living Off The Grid In Rhode Island Compares To Other States

By Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall St. Providence

January 27, 2023

In the wake of the pandemic, with growing economic uncertainty and climate change stressing public infrastructure, more Americans are seeking ways to live off the grid. This does not necessarily mean forgoing all modern conveniences. Rather, living off the grid simply often means just that – being disconnected from local utility grids and having a higher degree of self-sufficiency.

A recent study released by LawnStarter, a lawn care company that frequently conducts research into city and state amenities, created a weighted index of 23 key measures to identify the best states to live off the grid. These measures fall into one of five categories: feasibility, infrastructure, affordability, climate, and safety.

According to LawnStarter, Rhode Island ranks as the second worst state for those seeking to live off the grid.

Rhode Island scores highest in the climate category, which includes measures like the average yearly amount of sunshine, the average yearly amount of rain, and days of extreme temperatures. The state’s lowest ranking category is feasibility, which takes into account measures such as population density in rural areas and how suitable electric, water, and waste laws are for off-the-grid living.

All data in this story is from LawnStarter. A full description of the methodology is available here.

Can't see the article's infographic? Click here to view the original story.

This story was originally published by 24/7 Wall St., a news organization that produces real-time business commentary and data-driven reporting for state and local markets across the country.