If you want to relocate, add the best places in Rhode Island to the top of your list.
These places will let you hike Newport’s Cliff Walk, surf Westerly’s Misquamicut State Beach, or get a fresh plate of clam cakes in Narragansett.
We used Saturday Night Science to create a list of the top ten best places to live in Rhode Island for 2026. We used FBI, Census, and Zillow data to compare factors like crime, incomes, and home prices across 25 Rhode Island cities.
So, grab an ice-cold Del’s Lemonade, find a quiet spot along the Black River in Valley Falls, and read on.
$107,404 median income · $683,565 median home · #1 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Washington County, Rhode Island
We begin our tour of the best places to live in Rhode Island with Kingston, a village of 7,332 in the southern part of the state. Home to the University of Rhode Island, Kingston is the youngest city on this list by a wide margin, with a median age of 20. Also owing to URI, Kingston is one of the best-educated places in Rhode Island; over 60% of residents have a college degree, and 25% have a master’s degree or higher. With such smart neighbors and stimulating conversation, it’s easy to stop and smell the roses in Kingston…or the azaleas, if you head over to Kinney Azalea Gardens. Workers in Kingston enjoy the 2nd shortest average commute time in the state, with the average trip to and from work taking 18 minutes. Even better, residents have the 6th highest median household income in Rhode Island at $107,404/year. Which is good, seeing as the cost of living in Kingston is 10% higher than the statewide average and housing is 30% pricier. Rent in Kingston goes for around $1,422/month and a typical home sells for $683,565.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$103,707 median income · $424,418 median home · #2 best place in Rhode Island
Located in southwestern Rhode Island on the Connecticut border, Ashaway comes in as the 2nd best place to live for the second year running. A small village of 1,722, Ashaway is a tight-knit community. To get out and enjoy nature, we recommend an afternoon at Briggs Memorial Park, but if you’re willing to drive 15 minutes, Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT is the most entertaining place to visit in the area. Ashaway is quite affluent; at $103,707/year, the village has the 7th highest median household income in Rhode Island. That being said, a median home price of $424,418 is actually on the low end for places we’ll be covering, so you should be able to pay the mortgage off in no time. When you consider that both property value and income in Ashaway rose by more than 10% in the last year, moving here seems like a safe investment. Don’t think that the 1% are laughing it up while the rest of the village’s residents struggle, though; Ashaway has an incredibly low unemployment rate of 3.0% and the poverty rate ranks as the lowest in Rhode Island at 1.4%.
$120,250 median income · $426,342 median home · #3 best place in Rhode Island
Ranked 3rd, Bradford is a quiet town of 1,511 in Hopkinton’s southwestern corner with economic fundamentals that punch above its weight. The poverty rate sits at just 2.3% (4th lowest statewide), and median household income reaches $120,250. Add a 4.5% unemployment rate, and you’ve got one of the best places to live in Rhode Island for 2026.
The outdoor recreation is a nice bonus. Arcadia Management Area, one of New England’s largest public land tracts, sits practically on your doorstep for hiking, fishing, and paddling. Homes average $426,342, making Bradford one of the best small Rhode Island towns to settle into.
$95,207 median income · $623,538 median home · #4 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Washington County, Rhode Island
We’re wrapping up our coverage of the best places to live in Rhode Island with Westerly, a town bordering Connecticut on the southern tip of Rhode Island. Seven miles of sandy beaches leave you with plenty of options, but we’d say that Misquamicut Beach is the most popular choice for locals and tourists alike. Summer concerts, movies on the beach, great bars and breweries, and some scenic golf courses; it’s pretty tough to be bored in Westerly. No wonder it featured near the top of our list of the best places to retire in Rhode Island. Westerly has the 7th lowest crime rate, the 6th shortest commute time, and the 11th lowest poverty rate in Rhode Island. Homes here are the 4th most expensive in the state at $623,538, but we think Westerly’s residents would agree that it’s worth every penny.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$140,196 median income · $489,637 median home · #5 best place in Rhode Island
Carolina is a prime place for residency in Rhode Island.
Carolina’s appeal comes from its 9th highest median home value and 2nd lowest unemployment rate in the state.
A key part of the Carolina Village Historic District, the village offers a glimpse into the past with well-preserved buildings from various architectural periods. Originally a pivotal cotton industry site, it now provides a peaceful residential setting.
$75,912 median income · $439,966 median home · #6 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
East Providence, positioned within Providence County and home to 47,281, ranks as one of the best in Rhode Island. This city has a $439,966 median home value and a 75,912 median income, making it an affordable option for many. It has a reasonable 23 minute average commute time.
The Waterside District adds to the city’s appeal, offering leisure and scenic beauty, while the historic Looff Carousel remains a landmark. And they’re safe to walk around in, as East Providence has low 35 violent and 324 property crime rates, making East Providence a top choice in Rhode Island.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$130,506 median income · $487,043 median home · #7 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Cumberland Hill, a census-designated place about 20 minutes north of downtown Providence, is the 7th best place to live in Little Rhody. Cyclists appreciate being able to take the Blackstone River Bikeway from Woonsocket to Cumberland, complete with views of the river, marshes, waterfalls, and wildlife. If you’re looking for the freshest food in town, look no further than Phantom Farms, where you can pick your own apples or pumpkins, depending on the season, and devour delicious baked goods year-round.
Cumberland Hill may top our list of Rhode Island’s richest places, but don’t let that scare you; the cost of living here is basically on par with the statewide average. You won’t find cheaper rent on this list than Cumberland Hill, where you can find a place to rent for just $1,310/month, less than half the average rent in Rhode Island. Unemployment in Cumberland Hill sits at a crazy low 2.4%, the poverty rate of 4.7% ranks as the 8th lowest statewide, and 98.4% of residents have health insurance, the 9th highest rate in Rhode Island.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$102,266 median income · $0 median home · #8 best place in Rhode Island
Melville, in Newport County, Rhode Island, is the 8th best place to live in the state. Located on Narragansett Bay, the town has a strong locale economy reflected by a 102,266 median income and a low 4.1% unemployment_rate, ranked 9th lowest in Rhode Island.
The city also excels in education, with 60% of adults highly educated.
$99,158 median income · $546,620 median home · #9 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Newport County, Rhode Island
Located on Rhode Island’s eastern shore, Tiverton ranks at 9 among the best small towns to settle into. With unemployment at just 2.4% and poverty at 4.4%, this community of 8,091 keeps residents financially comfortable in ways a lot of Rhode Island places can’t. Spend an afternoon at Tiverton Four Corners, the arts and antiques village along Main Road, and you’ll see pretty fast why people choose to plant roots here.
The median household income sits at $99,158, and homes run around $546,620. This is a desirable Rhode Island town, not just a quiet one.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$88,708 median income · $414,087 median home · #10 best place in Rhode Island
Located in
Kent County, Rhode Island
Located just south of Providence and Cranston, Warwick clocks in as the 10th best place to live in Rhode Island. With cultural centers and historical sites, Warwick is a great spot for anyone interested in local artistry or history. Catch some superb waterfront views from Harbor Lights Marina, get out into nature at Goddard State Park, or enjoy the nearly 40 miles of continuous coastline at one of Warwick’s beaches. That’s not even getting into one of New England’s oldest villages, Pawtuxet Village, a coastal hotspot that’s becoming a destination for foodies from all over.
You won’t find a lower cost of living than Warwick on this list, which is why the city featured so highly on our coverage of the most affordable places in Rhode Island. Warwick’s poverty rate of 7.6% ranks as the 12th lowest in the state and the violent crime rate is 75% below the national average.
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
Rhode Island statewide median: 5.8%
On the map
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Rhode Island
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Rhode Island
Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Rhode Island, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit cities with populations over 100,000 against places with a population of 18?
We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.
So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:
- Cities — Populations over 1,000
- Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 1,000
- Small Towns — Populations below 1,000
We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Rhode Island have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 1,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’
Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.
We ranked each place in Rhode Island across a number of criteria from one to 25, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Rhode Island.”
The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking Rhode Island’s best places to live.
If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Rhode Island. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Kingston at the end of the cul-de-sac.
The full plate
Best Places To Live In Rhode Island Table
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Best Score | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Total Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingston | 6.40 | 7,332 | 8.4% | $683,565 | $107,404 | 1,249 | |
| 2 | Ashaway | 9.10 | 1,722 | 3.0% | $424,418 | $103,707 | 1,249 | |
| 3 | Bradford | 9.15 | 1,511 | 4.5% | $426,342 | $120,250 | 1,249 | |
| 4 | Westerly | 9.40 | 18,411 | 2.9% | $623,538 | $95,207 | 1,249 | |
| 5 | Carolina | 10.25 | 1,048 | 1.7% | $489,637 | $140,196 | 1,249 | |
| 6 | East Providence | 10.60 | 47,281 | 5.5% | $439,966 | $75,912 | 759 | |
| 7 | Cumberland Hill | 10.65 | 8,648 | 2.4% | $487,043 | $130,506 | 1,954 | |
| 8 | Melville | 10.90 | 1,631 | 4.1% | $0 | $102,266 | 1,672 | |
| 9 | Tiverton | 10.90 | 8,091 | 2.4% | $546,620 | $99,158 | 1,495 | |
| 10 | Warwick | 11.75 | 83,175 | 5.1% | $414,087 | $88,708 | 1,243 | |
| 11 | Narragansett Pier | 12.20 | 3,167 | 7.5% | $1,051,534 | $82,192 | 1,249 | |
| 12 | Hope Valley | 12.50 | 2,297 | 5.4% | $552,756 | $101,932 | 1,249 | |
| 13 | Cranston | 12.50 | 83,250 | 6.1% | $446,694 | $90,206 | 1,153 | |
| 14 | Greenville | 12.80 | 8,296 | 4.8% | $536,946 | $97,234 | 1,954 | |
| 15 | Newport | 12.85 | 24,874 | 9.0% | $938,854 | $86,313 | 1,672 | |
| 16 | Newport East | 13.30 | 11,069 | 7.4% | $599,571 | $89,028 | 1,672 | |
| 17 | Valley Falls | 13.40 | 12,657 | 3.4% | $463,451 | $92,901 | 1,954 | |
| 18 | Chepachet | 14.35 | 1,923 | 1.7% | $345,118 | $92,971 | 1,954 | |
| 19 | Pascoag | 15.55 | 4,410 | 8.8% | $450,851 | $121,369 | 1,954 | |
| 20 | Harmony | 15.85 | 1,006 | 0.0% | $421,701 | $120,235 | 1,954 | |
| 21 | Harrisville | 17.20 | 1,767 | 9.7% | $438,499 | $62,535 | 1,954 | |
| 22 | Pawtucket | 17.35 | 75,893 | 7.3% | $391,766 | $68,310 | 1,832 | |
| 23 | Providence | 18.30 | 191,767 | 8.2% | $426,007 | $68,119 | 1,954 | |
| 24 | Central Falls | 18.70 | 22,701 | 7.9% | $377,289 | $49,285 | 1,339 | |
| 25 | Woonsocket | 19.05 | 43,521 | 6.8% | $380,892 | $61,059 | 1,903 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, Zillow research. 25 places with more than 1,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places In Rhode Island
If you’re looking at areas in Rhode Island with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The best places to live in Rhode Island are Kingston, Ashaway, Bradford, Westerly, Carolina, East Providence, Cumberland Hill, Melville, Tiverton, and Warwick.
Kingston made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Rhode Island for 2026.
