2023 Best Places to Retire in Rhode Island

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.45 out of 5  11 reviews

Visitor: I've been frequently visiting this island community for the past 16 years; my GF lives there. A town admin member wishes more residents were as up on it as I am. There's much to love; but it's become a rich person's paradise. Every square inch of available land is being built upon for luxury homes and the zoning boards roll over to get their tummies scratched. In many sections, the density is awful (Shores). Realty is the biz to be in. Town is rapidly losing its original character. Police/fire dept members can't afford to live there. It's rapidly transforming into Newport Lite and now it's all about the Benjamins. This town has forgotten the people who built it. The state-mandated goal of 10% affordable housing is woefully short, in part due to NIMBY's. Many homes are 2nd's & sparsely used. Problems with STR's. Apartment ads are a thing of the past. "I LOVE your town. Now, let's change it!" Most expensive town in RI now. Pros: safe, liberal, great schools, scenic.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 5,531

Current Resident: A warm summer morning with the sound of ocean waves gently crashing into the sand along the Westerly Town Beach.A beach morning paired with a beach bagel as I wait for my friends, enjoying the beauty of the seagulls fighting over my crumbs.In addition to the daytime beach activities, are fun summer evenings spent walking Bay Street, stopping to get chicken tenders and french fries at St. Clair Annex.Growing up in Westerly has meant establishing friendships that will last a lifelong.Being outdoors and enjoying all that summer has to offer in New England is such an important part of my life and honestly where so many of my fondest memories have been made.Progressed from grade school, through middle and high school have meant that our perfect days have only gotten better as we’ve matured.Perfect summer days will transition into new memories in different places, but it also means that next summer our beach days will be bittersweet because not matter where we go, Westerly will be “home”... Read 64 reviews

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• Population 23,352

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  33 reviews

Current Resident: Narragansett is a magical New England town. For some its a seasonal beach town, for others it's year round living. The college students tend to take over the Scarborough, Bonnet Shores, and Pt. Judith areas during the academic season. If you aren't into the beach, Narragansett is home to the fishing community of Galilee at Port of Judith. This houses the second largest commercial fishing fleet on coast only bested by Massachusetts' New Bedford fleet. My family has been here many generations and I have had the Blessing of Selling homes to many a vacationers and old-timers alike. You can always stop by my website if are interested in owning a piece of this town yourself billgilberthomes.com... Read 33 reviews

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• Population 14,759

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: This is a beautiful seaside town. A little over run with tourists in the summer, but that's understandable. Having lived in the Pier for several years, I've enjoyed learning its history while strolling along historic Central Street and being able to walk everywhere... from a revitalized Boon Street, to the seawall and beach. There are numerous hiking trails and the bike path as well.The choices to dine out are varied and good. Hopefully the new library, which will be located in the heart of Pier Marketplace, will help it become a more vibrant spot in town...especally for the locals. A great place to live and visit.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 3,265

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.43 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: I love my town of Bristol. It's small, safe, beautiful, and has just enough things located around it. I grew up here and I think it's an amazing place to raise kids and a family and I wouldn't change a thing about it. The only downfall is the lack of diversity and experience growing up in such a small town. I wish I was able to not be so sheltered and constantly surrounded by the same people. But that is most small towns and Bristol is the best town I could've been raised in.... Read 40 reviews

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• Population 22,305

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  70 reviews

Current Resident: South Kingstown is a very welcoming community. They have beautiful beaches, wonderful shops, and tantalizing cuisine. The town is a safe environment to raise a family and live peacefully. South Kingstown is home to two of South County's scenic beaches, tranquil farmlands, and historic landmarks. Downtown Wakefield is situated on the revitalized Saugatucket River, an architectural sight to behold. Unique shops and restaurants line Main St. featuring exquisite antiques, garden supplies, apparel, gifts, crafts, and more!... Read 70 reviews

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• Population 31,576

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Greenville my whole life and it is a wonderful town to grow up in. I believe it has very dedicated educators, friendly neighborhoods, and provides a feeling of both pride and safeness. I would love to see its dining establishments continue to grow and diversify.... Read 10 reviews

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• Population 8,955

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4 out of 5  65 reviews

Current Resident: North Kingstown has been a great place to live and go to school. The town has 5 elementary schools, two middle/junior high schools and a senior high school. The senior high school is less than 15 years old and offers a lot of opportunities for students to excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. Academically, North Kingstown high school has prepared me well for college and life beyond college. They offer a very broad range of class subjects which was very helpful for me to discover what I wanted choose as a major in college. The teachers are very supportive and willing to help but they expect you to try hard and help yourself to the learning opportunities that are available. North Kingstown is a nice town. There is diversity among the residents. Most everyone is respectful of each other. There are some very large parks and recreation areas for kids to stretch their legs, run and play. There is also a town beach that gives residents access to the Narragansett Bay.... Read 65 reviews

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• Population 27,696

• Town in Rhode Island

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  208 reviews

Former Resident: The city of Warwick often gets a bad rep. There are apparent issues within the public school system, condition of infrastructure, and overall cost of living, but looking beyond this, the city has much to offer. Warwick is a tight-knit community, even for a medium-to-large city. I feel comfortable walking into my local cafe or shopping center and being greeted with a warm smile and a recognizable face. The restaurants, parks, and waterfront locations are exceptional. I had an amazing experience growing up in this diverse city and constantly exploring. You will never run out of things to do in Warwick, RI!... Read 208 reviews

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• Population 82,666

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: Community is nice, but it needs more for people to do here. Too many places are closing and being replaced by banks, gas stations, or hotels.... Read 41 reviews

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• Population 16,983

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  39 reviews

Former Resident: I moved to the area in 1997, purchased a home and lived there until 2006. I moved to California, but plan to move back to Portsmouth when I retire. I love the area because the homes are spaced out and there are a lot of places to walk. I love the Polo Games in the summer, and Sandy Point beach. I love bicycling the back roads to Newport, and being able to cross country ski when it snows. There are so many excellent restaurants and superb beaches around Aquidneck Island. Great sailing in the Narragansett Bay, too. Four full seasons: summers can be a bit sticky and winters bitter at times....but the spring and autumn are sublime. I love it being so close to Boston and Cape Cod, too. Overall, it's a great place! I hope it still is when I return in 3-5 years!... Read 39 reviews

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• Population 17,802

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  49 reviews

Current Resident: Personally I think the town is quite nice and fine the way that it is, I would label it as more of a quiet town, and since it is a quiet town it is also kind of boring. But, for me that is fine, this is because currently I am a college student living in a dorm and the only thing that matters to me right now is sitting down and focusing on my work. Granted there are people out there who would hate the life I live, so unless you're the quiet type that likes to work, live in a quiet neighborhood, then this place might be for you.... Read 49 reviews

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• Population 13,970

Current Resident: Glocester is a Great rural town! Not always much to do but close to some bigger towns like Smithfield and Lincoln.... Read 10 reviews

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• Population 10,007

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Growing up in a small town in New England I was lucky enough to experience the sense of community that came with it. The way the leaves changing was always a topic of conversation or the way the community seems to revolve around Jaswell's farm apple cider. We bond over our proximity to the ocean, the mountains and the vast terrains tucked away in our corner of the earth. We grew up eating Dunkin, and clam chowder and fluffernutters. Smithfield is an extension of that with a close knit community who rallies together when any one member of the community needs it. Our unique town traditions hold a special place in my heart and is some where I'm happy to have grown up. Years after I leave this town and have a house or family of my own I will never for get the town fireworks everyone seemed to go to or the lines to get a first taste at this seasons apples. Smithfield is a quant town you can easily but has lots to offer.... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 21,855

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: A great up and coming town! The waterfront is being redeveloped wonderfully with fun and new restaurants, breweries, and apartments! Cheaper than nearby Barrington and Bristol but with all the same perks. Close to amenities in Seekonk, Fall River, and Providence. Plus not too far from the beaches. In a few years this will be the go to town in the area so get in while you can!... Read 48 reviews

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• Population 11,166

• Town in Rhode Island

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet, beautiful, and friendly town. Summer time can be crowded by families and vacationers; however, becomes quiet again come fall until June.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 8,012

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  67 reviews

Current Resident: Cumberland is the place to BE in Rhode Island ! Right on the border of Massachusetts and 45 minutes from the beautiful state beaches, raising a family in a suburb like Cumberland is unbeatable ! From a stellar school system to a tight knit community, move to Cumberland today! We can’t wait to meet ya!... Read 67 reviews

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• Population 36,186

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  74 reviews

Current Resident: I love Lincoln, it's a nice welcoming town with a lot of good people. The food here is good with the Lincoln Mall and various family owned restaurants scattered across the state. The best part about Lincoln is that you can get anywhere in the state within an hour. If you ever want to go to the beach or anywhere else in RI it would only be a 30 minute to an hour drive as opposed to some states where it takes hours to get to places in state. Everything is local here and its a nice way to love, I recommend Lincoln, or even the whole state of RI in general for anyone who has yet to experience living or visiting a tiny state.... Read 74 reviews

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• Population 22,415

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.69 out of 5  35 reviews

Current Resident: Tiverton is a very nice suburban town. Seeing as we are in the small state of Rhode Island, while we may not have everything, anything you need is half an hour away at most. Such as Newport with it's nightlife and higher-class restaurants or lower-class bars. Or maybe you want to drive around Portsmouth and Middletown, both with all sorts of businesses and stores to explore. Or maybe staying in the more rural or suburban Tiverton is your thing. Tiverton is pretty safe, not having much craziness around here. There is Tiverton Middle School, Tiverton High School, and Pocasset Elementary. Though the schools in nearby Middletown, Portsmouth and Newport are also quite good! There are a few houses for sale, and many jobs nearby. The commute to anywhere you need is, as said, half an hour or less. Lastly, there are a lot of kids around here, meaning that if a lot of families are here, it has to be family friendly!... Read 35 reviews

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• Population 16,287

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  92 reviews

Former Resident: I grew up there and can say you get it all within the area. There's the quiet, well-kept neighborhoods and the run-down too close neighborhoods, but everyone no matter the street they came from, are mostly all kind, funny, and supportive, especially when it comes to their kids. The pride and community that is seen in East Providence is something that is very rare in today's world and it gives me hope that people will still be kind, caring, and supportive of their neighbors wherever I might go.... Read 92 reviews

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• Population 47,171

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  61 reviews

Current Resident: Amazing place to take a vacation or live. Newport has many great restaurants and bars. It also has a lot of beaches and nature walks. And to top it off, the views in Newport are amazing. The Ocean Drive is definitely the more well-known view in Newport, and for a good reason.... Read 61 reviews

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• Population 25,322

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  78 reviews

Current Resident: Barrington was a great place to grow up and there are many things that I like about living here. It is a small town, so everywhere is relatively accessible and it is safe so, as a kid, I was able to bike around to different places. It is also a beautiful town because it is located on the water and has some eye-catching architecture, such as the public library and some houses. It also has an excellent public school system which set me up for success and is filled with many teachers who are passionate about their work. On the other hand, Barrington is not very diverse and is fairly wealthy so it can be somewhat insulated. It also does not have a lot of activities for older kids but once I was able to drive, it was easy to drive to Providence or to a train station to access other cities like Boston and New York.... Read 78 reviews

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• Population 17,201

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  160 reviews

Current Resident: I am a lifelong resident of Cranston RI. The culture in Cranston RI is like no other, very tight community. Us cranstonions pull together when the community needs us to do so. From the Feasts that shut down one part of the city to the amazing restaurants to the beautiful renovated foot ball field at Cranston west high school. Garden City shopping center is like an small outlet that people from all over RI come to shop. I intend on being a life long resident. I love my city!... Read 160 reviews

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• Population 82,654

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  51 reviews

Current Resident: There are many things that are enjoyable in North Smithfield. One thing I personally like is the small size of the schools. This allows for many close relationships with the other students which creates many friendships. Also, North Smithfield is known for having a wonderful high school choir that holds multiple concerts for the public. Another thing about North Smithfield is the very short commute times. Everything is within around a 15-minute drive from many of the neighborhoods located in North Smithfield.... Read 51 reviews

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• Population 12,537

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.42 out of 5  83 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful town with many Italian influences! Good town to raise a family. Very family friendly! Our mayor is very involved with his community, from attending recreational sports games, to attending schools for good meeting influences. Johnston is a well rounded town with a lot to give!... Read 83 reviews

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• Population 29,550