Patrick Price
· 9 min read
Rhode Island is one of the most popular places to live in the United States—and it’s not hard to see why. From rich culture to breathtaking natural beauty, the Ocean State has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a community perfect for raising a family, somewhere great to buy a home, or just an affordable place to live, Rhode Island has somewhere that will be perfect for you!
The hard part, of course, is picking just which town or city in Rhode Island you’d like to live in. Not to worry—
Jerry
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and home insurance
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What makes a good place to live?
Picking a place to call home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever have to make. The right town makes all the difference in your quality of life and overall happiness. Numerous factors determine whether or not a given town is a good place to live. Everything from population and cost of living to aesthetics and weather should be considered.
Personal preference is also an important factor—everyone has their own preferences, and the best place to live will be different for everyone.
To help you make this momentous decision, we’ve gathered all the important details on six of Rhode Island’s best places to live: Cranston, Barrington, Pascoag, Valley Falls, Cumberland Hill, Kingston, and Bristol. Whether you’re looking for a quiet small town or a bustling city, they’ll be some great options for you on our list!
Here’s a quick look at the key factors that we considered when picking out our top six towns to live in:
- Median home price and household income
- Average cost of living
- Quality of healthcare and schools
- Average commute times
- Crime statistics
- FEMA risk index ratings
Based on those criteria, we’ve chosen six great towns and cities and divided them into three categories based on affordability, family-friendliness, and housing markets. Scroll through our list to start picking out your ideal Rhode Island home!
The best places for families to live in Rhode Island
When you have a family, it becomes your top priority when making any decision—and looking for a place to settle down is no exception. You’ll want to find a Rhode Island home in a town with good schools, low crime rates, a healthy community, and vibrant local culture. With those requirements in mind, take a look at the best places for families to live in Rhode Island.
Cranston
Location: Providence County
Population: 81,254
Median household income: $72,017
Median home price: $376,889
Just a few miles south of
Providence
’s city center, the southern outskirts gradually become the quaint suburb known as Cranston
. Fans of H.P Lovecraft’s writing might recognize Cranston by its original name, Pawtuxet. Under that name, Cranston was in Lovecraft’s iconic horror stories—but you won’t find any ghosts or goblins nowadays. Instead, you’ll find an idyllic little community with some of the best education statistics in the state! Cranston has a high school graduation rate of over 90%, and 34% of all adults (25+) have attained a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Public middle and high schools in Cranston regularly report test scores well above the national average. There’s no doubt that Cranston is a good community for education.
As for crime, Cranston’s most recently reported an overall crime rate of 12 per 1,000, meaning it’s almost the exact average for Rhode Island and the nation. So, in terms of safety, it’s pretty middle-of-the-road.
Cranston also has plenty of local culture or experience. Whether you’re looking for a scenic walk through Pawtuxet Village, a fun Saturday at Milligan’s Island Gold & Entertainment, or an educational experience at the Mobilequest Stem Center, you’ll always find something interesting and enriching to do!
Barrington
Location: Bristol County
Population: 16,131
Median household income: $125,431
Median home price: $433,200
Another town perfect for families is Barrington. The semi-rural location and small population offer residents all the charms of a small town. If you get the itch for any big-city amenities, however, Providence is just a few minutes away!
Education in Barrington is some of the most impressive in the entire nation. With a high school graduation rate of 97.6% and 72% of adults (25+), Barrington’s education statistics far exceed state and national averages.
The average income of $125,431 in Barrington is also well above the average—but so is the cost of living—129.6% compared to the national average.
You and the family won’t have any trouble finding things to do in Barrington—the town is full of state parks, nature trails, wildlife sanctuaries, and great public libraries!
The most affordable places to live in Rhode Island
Perhaps the most important factor in deciding on a place to live is the cost of living—especially in these uncertain economic times. For some, affordability is the absolute top priority. That’s why we’ve picked out the three most affordable places to live in Rhode Island.
Pascoag
Location: Providence County
Population: 4,594
Median household income: $84,386
Median home price: $221,700
Pascoag
is one of the most affordable places to live in Rhode Island. With a home price-to-income ratio of 2.6x and an income-to-rent ratio of 92.8x, you won’t find more affordable housing anywhere in the Ocean State. Here’s a quick breakdown of the cost of living (COL) in Pascoag:
- Overall COL: 110.9% of the national average
- Groceries: 105.7% of the national average
- Health: 84.4% of the national average
- Housing: 111.2% of the national average
- Utilities: 111.2% of the national average
- Transportation: 122.9% of the national average
As you can see, the COL expenses in most categories are still well above the national average—that’s because COL costs are higher on average throughout Rhode Island. Many of the other cities in our nation’s smallest state are much more expensive than Pascoag.
Valley Falls
Location: Providence County
Population: 11,548
Median household income: $88,927
Median home price: $265,800
Just a few miles north of
Pawtucket
, on the border with Massachusetts, lies Valley Falls—a census-designated portion of Cumberland
. This gorgeous little town is the perfect spot for appreciating the natural splendor of Rhode Island. But Valley Falls isn’t just beautiful—it’s also one of the most affordable places to live in the entire state! The average cost of living in Valley Falls is 113% of the national average—which is still less than most places in Rhode Island. In fact, compared to the rest of Rhode Island, Valley Falls’s overall COL is 7% lower, its median home cost is 20% lower, and housing costs, in general, are almost 17% lower. If you’re looking for a cheap place to set down roots, you won’t find many places better than Valley Falls.
Best places to buy a house in Rhode Island
Navigating housing markets can be a little tricky, to say the least. You’ve probably heard the old saying that location is everything when it comes to real estate—this is very true. So, if you’re considering buying a house in Rhode Island, you’ll need to choose your town carefully. This means taking into account the average price of homes, the climate, and the FEMA Risk Index.
Kingston
Location: Washington County
Population: 6,513
Median household income: $96,775
Median home price: $355,900
About 25 miles south of Providence, you’ll find
Kingstown
—one of the best places to buy a home in Rhode Island. Not only is Kingston surrounded by natural greenery, but it’s also situated right on the shores of Narragansett Bay—so most of the small town is beach-front property. Apart from its scenic settings, Kingstown also offers a rich cultural and historical tradition dating back to its founding in 1674. You can learn all about the town’s unique history at the Quonset Air Museum or the Seabees Museum.
Property values in Kingstown have been rising slowly but steadily, so you could pretty safely count on your new home becoming more valuable the longer you own it. Additionally, Kingstown’s FEMA Risk Index is only a 6.15, below Rhode Island and the national average, meaning you’ll likely see lower home insurance rates as a result.
Bristol
Location: Bristol County
Population: 22,145
Median household income: $72,610
Median home price: $337,700
Bristol
is a great place to buy a house if you’re looking for a fun and dynamic atmosphere. Even though Providence is only 18 miles away, you’re not going to need to head there any time soon. Bristol has all the amenities of a big city without the stress or the crowds. Homes in Bristol are in high demand at the moment, with a rapidly increasing average home price and a decidedly seller’s market. If you do decide to shop for a home in Bristol, be prepared for a bit of competition.
However, once you find your dream home, you won’t have to worry about unexpected perils much. Bristol rates very low, at 4.08, on the FEMA Risk Index, with only 5.8% of US counties ranking lower.
How to find affordable homeowners and car insurance in Rhode Island
Whichever town in Rhode Island you eventually decide to call home, you’ll need either
homeowners insurance
or renters insurance
—depending on if you buy or rent your new home. With the high cost of living in Rhode Island, however, the last thing you need is another expense, so you’re probably looking for ways to minimize your monthly insurance payments—
Jerry
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The best part is that Jerry is free and saves users an average of $800+ a year! Download the app and get started today!
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