People who live in Rhode Island aren't big spenders. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, Rhode Island spent 39-thousand-700-dollars per capita last year, the lowest amount spent in New England. However, Rhode Island did spend more than the national average. The average Rhode Islander brings home more than 48-thousand-dollars a year, ranking number four among the six states for income levels. Massachusetts spent the most in the country at 48-thousand-dollars.