Rhode Island Real Estate For Sale

There are 39 cities and towns in the state, divided among five counties. The biggest and most densely populated county is Providence County, while the smallest is coastal Bristol County.

Providence County is the most populous because it is where the capital of Rhode Island, Providence, is located. This beloved city has won awards for its livability and is recognized by different publications as a quirky haven for foodies and art lovers, as well as a diverse and eccentric place to raise a family. For such a densely populated city, residents say that Providence has a small-town vibe where you know your neighbors. Depending on the neighborhood, you can find homes for sale in Rhode Island for $320k and up. Some areas are especially popular with students who attend the nearby Ivy League school, Brown University.

The rest of the real estate in Rhode Island is as charming as those in the capital city. Southeast of Providence and across the river, the town of Barrington is popular with families. Its excellent school system has been awarded the Blue Ribbon Schools award, and its high school is among the top 200 in the United States. Although it's a small town, the size of Rhode Island means that only a short drive separates its residents from all the amenities of the nearby city.

The bay that separates Rhode Island real estate from Massachusetts to the east makes for some of the best beaches on the northeastern Atlantic coast. The beach town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land where the year-round population is half that of the population during the summer months. Its three main beaches are popular tourist destinations, and the influx of visitors during the summer ensures that the town benefits from a healthy economy. 

Quaint small towns are scattered all over the rest of the state, and many of them have beachfront properties. Some of these small towns have attracted celebrities who have built summer homes in towns like Watch Hill, Jamestown, and especially Newport. Small beach towns and villages are especially popular with those who love sailing or surfing, and these villages also provide a ton of Rhode Island real estate options that can help you build passive income during the busy summer season.

Schooling is an important consideration for any family planning on moving to Rhode Island real estate. Rhode Island is similar to neighboring New England states in that it has a long heritage of excellent schooling, with students in most schools tending to score higher than the national average in math and reading proficiency. The highest-rated school system on the island is Barrington Public Schools. There are four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in the Barrington Public Schools system. Three of the district's schools have earned Blue Ribbon Schools awards, the highest honor awarded to schools in the country, and 5 out of 6 of Barrington's schools have been recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Education as Commended Schools. 

After Barrington Public Schools, the next most highly-ranked school systems are the East Greenwich School Department, South Kingstown School District, North Kingstown School Department, and Cumberland School Department. The students in the schools of each of these districts are high performers, and in many cases, their performance is only growing. In the case of the North Kingstown School Department, the system went through a revitalization process that pushed its teachers and students towards some of the highest scores on New England state assessments. Each of these school systems is also home to at least one Blue Ribbon school and has graduation rates significantly higher than the state average. 

The highest-ranked high school overall is Classical High School in Providence. 99% of students graduate, and the average SAT score is 1578 (out of 1600). The school's challenging college prep curriculum was created to develop well-rounded students who are proficient in the arts, humanities, foreign languages, and sciences. It has been ranked among the top 100 high schools in the United States.

Families looking for real estate in Rhode Island should head over to East Greenwich, south of Providence. This town features award-winning schools, tons of gathering places for playdates and mornings over coffee, and even a public dock that reaches Narragansett Bay. The surrounding towns also feature some of the same benefits at a more affordable price.

Providence's Wayland neighborhood is an excellent choice for young professionals. Many graduates of Brown University remain in the neighborhood, and the quasi-college town means there is always plenty to do. The area's architecture includes many Queen Anne-style historical homes that have been lovingly maintained by the residents. Nearby Fox Point is another oasis for young professionals.

The tiny island community of Jamestown is one of the most popular places in the state with the 65+ set. Its population hovers around 7,000 and the town is one of the most rural in Rhode Island. Travelers from the mainland can get to Jamestown by ferry to experience its excellent selection of restaurants and shops. Crime is significantly lower here than the national average or even the state average. However, because this town is small, Rhode Island real estate here tends to be on the more expensive side, with a median home price in the mid-$600k range.

The climate of Rhode Island is humid continental, meaning that there are warm summers and cold winters. The western part of Rhode Island experiences the most snow, averaging up to 55 inches every winter. Some parts of Rhode Island are more subtropic, with very hot summers and cool winters. Hurricanes and tropical storms tend to hit Rhode Island hardest if they move up the eastern coast. 

Most flights that come through Rhode Island depart from and arrive at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) in Providence.

Rhode Island has so many beaches along its 400+ mile coastline that its official nickname is the Ocean State. However, only some of these beaches are public or accessible. The largest and most popular beach is Misquamicut State Beach, while surfers tend to prefer Narragansett Beach. For a walk along rocky cliffs, visit Cliff Walk, which shares a border with the back lawn of the Breakers (see below). Mohegan Bluffs provides views from its 200+ foot cliffs.

Rhode Island was one of the original 13 colonies settled by what would become the first non-native citizens of the United States of America. As a result, there's history everywhere. Rhode Island was especially popular with the very wealthy during the Gilded Age, and visitors can tour the enormous mansions that once served as summer homes for some of America's most famous industrialists. For example, if you've heard of the Vanderbilts, you've likely heard of the Breakers, the most opulent of Newport's summer "cottages." This grand 70-room house is no cottage and was built to imitate 17th-century Italy palazzos. 

For more stunning art, you can visit the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art in Providence. Rhode Island School of Design, also known as RISD, is one of the most eminent art schools in the country. Its alumni include MacArthur Genius recipients, Emmy award winners, Oscar winners, and some of America's most successful artists. 

The public schools in Rhode Island follow a statewide calendar. In years past, the school year began near the beginning of September. School tends to let out for summer break in mid-June.

● Perhaps due to its size, or maybe just due to the disposition of Rhode Islanders, the crime rate here is much lower than the national average. This is true even in the larger cities of Providence and Cranston.

● Every local has the same area code: there's only one in Rhode Island, and it's 401. 

● Rhode Island has incredible beaches. This means plenty of waterfront real estate in Rhode Island to choose from.

● Rhode Island has worked hard on several green initiatives making it one of the most eco-friendly states in the country. 

● The service industry is one of the biggest sources of employment in the state, especially during the summer. If you have service or hospitality experience, you're almost guaranteed to find an excellent job opportunity.