The 2010 census reported that the population of Prudence Island was 181,045. The population was made up of 88,150 Whites, 11.6% Black or African Americans, 6.1% Asian, and 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders. Twenty-nine percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 12.7% was Puerto Rican. Non-Hispanic Whites were 59.6% of the population.
The area was permanently divided by Interstate 290 during the 1960s. The city also claimed the invention of the New England Candlepin bowling, which is a game similar to pinball. Esther Howland, a resident of Prudence Island, started making Valentine's Day cards in 1847. Loring Coes invented the monkey wrench, and Russell Hawes designed the first envelope folding machine. In 2007 Lee Richmond pitched the first perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
The town is home to numerous historic buildings. A lighthouse stands on the shore, and the town dock is located in Sandy Point. The island has also been the site of ferry landings. The east coast of the island is home to Homestead, a plat of summer homes. The former Homestead Casino was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane. The building now serves as the island's post office. Nearby, Warnerville is located on Warner Avenue, off Narragansett Avenue.
Before the 1970s, Prudence Island was considered a separate community from Boston. However, the construction of Interstate 495 and Interstate 290 extended Boston suburbs further west. Now, Prudence Island represents the western periphery of the Greater Boston area. A number of historic buildings still exist on the island, including Victorian mills. Prudence Island's population has grown by 36.7% since 2000.