What kid doesn’t want to live on a “rhode” on an island? Not many.
Now, Rhode Island might not be an island persay, but it does have some pretty cool places–including beaches–for kids. Do we think that’s why the state ranked the thirteenth best state to raise a family? Absolutely. More importantly, it has some of the best places inside its borders call home. And lucky for you, HomeSnacks is here to help navigate those places. We’ve created a list of the best places for families to live in Rhode Island for 2026.
How did we determine Rhode Island’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in The Ocean State with more than 8,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 10 family friendly Rhode Island places. We discovered that not only is Rhode Island the smallest state in size, it’s a state with the least amount of residents. Don’t worry, however, what the state doesn’t make up in size, it makes up in family friendly amenities, safe cities and neighborhoods, great schools, and competitive jobs and salaries.
That’s not all we discovered, folks. Did you know that you can take your family on a ferry from the harbor in Providence to Martha’s Vineyard? And if scenic drives are more your family’s thing, you can start your minivan in Newport and cruise down Ocean Drive to Gooseberry Beach. That’s what we call family friendly! To learn more about our methodology and to see why Rhode Island’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, read on.
$90,206 median income · 26.1% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. With a population of 80,529 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston. Cranston is a part of the Providence metropolitan area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$99,158 median income · 20.4% households with kids
Located in
Newport County, Rhode Island
Tiverton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,780 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$88,708 median income · 24.3% households with kids
Located in
Kent County, Rhode Island
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$95,207 median income · 19.4% households with kids
Located in
Washington County, Rhode Island
Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island, United States founded in 1669 by John Babcock. It is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state. The population was 22,787 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$86,313 median income · 15.8% households with kids
Located in
Newport County, Rhode Island
Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The City of Newport is located approximately 37 miles southeast of Providence, 21 miles south of Fall River, and 74 miles south of Boston. It is known as a New England summer resort and is famous for its mansions. It is also the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport, which houses the United States Naval War College, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and a major United States Navy training center. It was a major 18th-century port city and also contains a high number of surviving buildings from the colonial era of the United States.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$75,912 median income · 21.9% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$68,119 median income · 28.6% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island in the early 1900s it was the most visited place, founded in 1636 and one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of “God’s merciful Providence” which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers to settle. The city is situated at the mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
$49,285 median income · 39.4% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only 1.29 square miles, it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 27th most densely populated incorporated place in the United States. It is also one of only four incorporated places in New England that have a higher population density than the city of Boston. The city takes its name from a waterfall on the Blackstone River.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$68,310 median income · 32.0% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$61,059 median income · 32.1% households with kids
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts state line and constitutes part of both the Providence metropolitan area and the larger Greater Boston Combined Statistical Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Rhode Island’s statewide median.
Rhode Island statewide median: $87,796
Rhode Island statewide median: $499,272
On the map
Where Rhode Island’s most family-friendly cities are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Rhode Island anyways?
To give you the places in Rhode Island that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Rhode Island, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 8,000 people. For Rhode Island, that meant a total of 10 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Rhode Island.
The full plate
Best Places For Families In Rhode Island
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | % Households w/ Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cranston | 83,250 | $90,206 | $446,694 | 26.1% |
| 2 | Tiverton | 8,091 | $99,158 | $546,620 | 20.4% |
| 3 | Warwick | 83,175 | $88,708 | $414,087 | 24.3% |
| 4 | Westerly | 18,411 | $95,207 | $623,538 | 19.4% |
| 5 | Newport | 24,874 | $86,313 | $938,854 | 15.8% |
| 6 | East Providence | 47,281 | $75,912 | $439,966 | 21.9% |
| 7 | Providence | 191,767 | $68,119 | $426,007 | 28.6% |
| 8 | Central Falls | 22,701 | $49,285 | $377,289 | 39.4% |
| 9 | Pawtucket | 75,893 | $68,310 | $391,766 | 32.0% |
| 10 | Woonsocket | 43,521 | $61,059 | $380,892 | 32.1% |
Source: U.S. Census data via Saturday Night Science. 10 Rhode Island cities with more than 8,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Rhode Island
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Rhode Island ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Rhode Island are Cranston, Tiverton, Warwick, Westerly, Newport, East Providence, Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket. Not sold on Rhode Island? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places For Families In Rhode Island FAQs
What is the best place to raise a family in Rhode Island?
Cranston is the best place to raise a family in Rhode Island for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Tiverton and Warwick round out the top three.
What are the best places for families in Rhode Island?
The best Rhode Island places to raise a family are Cranston, Tiverton, Warwick, Westerly, Newport, East Providence, Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket. We ranked all 10 cities with more than 8,000 residents.
How do you rank family-friendly cities?
Family-friendliness blends low crime, good schools, proximity to a major city, the share of households with kids, and nearby amenities. The city that balances all of it best in Rhode Island is Cranston.
Is Cranston affordable for families?
The median home in Cranston costs $446,694 against a median household income of $90,206. Statewide, the median home runs $499,272, so check the gap before you pack the minivan.
What is the toughest place to raise a family in Rhode Island?
Woonsocket lands at the bottom of the family ranking for Rhode Island. Families make it work everywhere, but the crime, school, and income numbers stack against it there.
