2023 Suburbs with the Lowest Cost of Living in the Providence Area

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.73 out of 5  22 reviews

Niche User: The police enforce anything that goes wrong but there are still some corrupt people in our community.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 12,064

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.51 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: Wonderful place to live. Great school, families and people. Location is great to. I moved here from Barrington and I am happy to move.... Read 45 reviews

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• Population 8,925

• 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 in Massachusetts

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: North Seekonk is a comfortable and quaint town that exudes safety and security. The shops and stores are adequate, with other places close by, and the atmosphere is comforting. I highly recommend living here if you want to raise a family.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 2,191

• 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 3.42 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

• Suburb in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.57 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: Swansea is a great down with great people. It is such a welcoming community with lots of love. The public schools are amazing with amazing teachers who truly care about their students. The holidays here are so beautiful, we have an event "Holiday in the Village" where Main St is all lit up and everyone in town gather around for the lighting of the tree. The whole town comes together to celebrate the holidays together and it is so magical and beautiful!... Read 30 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Population 17,020

• 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

• grade B+

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• Population 16,287

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: I love the lake community and all the activities it entails. I also like Rhode Island's small town atmosphere.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B

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• Population 1,493

• Suburb in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  104 reviews

Current Resident: Small, connected town. Family friendly. Schools are good. Lots to do for small children. Housing market comparable with surrounding towns.... Read 104 reviews

• grade B

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• grade B

• Population 29,180

• Suburb in Massachusetts

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  Rating 4 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: I moved into this neighborhood during the summer of 2020, and my experience has been mostly positive. This area is definitely rural for Massachusetts, but a quick drive to a neighboring town will give access to any additional stores you would need. Very safe, with plenty of natural places to walk through. The one thing I'll say is that this area is heavily white and conservative, with a noteworthy amount of discrimination in places like the public schools, so keep that in mind if you intend to move here.... Read 8 reviews

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• grade B minus

• grade B

• Population 4,835

• Suburb in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.72 out of 5  53 reviews

Former Resident: A fine, safe place to live and raise a family if you can afford it. There's not much to do, but you're not that far from key spots in southern New England. The town has a bit of an old yuppie vibe to it. For decades lot of Fall River residents "graduated" to Somerset after finding good jobs. Politically, it's left of center, but not as liberal as Fall River. The old generation were more classic Rockefeller liberal, rich Republican types, but their spoiled, sheltered kids who never heard the word "no" in their lives grew up to be socialist Democrats. That's one negative about this town. I'd say since the 90s this town has bred some of the most spoiled children you'll see in all of Massachusetts.... Read 53 reviews

• grade B

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• Population 18,271

• 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 3.53 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Scituate is an amazing hidden gem of Rhode Island. Most people know Scituate for, "The Scituate Art Festival," but this town is so much more than an annual festival! The village holds tons of rustic and antique style shops. This town is what I love to call, "a Hallmark Town." The community is amazing and supportive of one another. The education and school systems are great and very personable with families. I feel safe and comfortable living in this beautiful town!... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 10,423

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.54 out of 5  82 reviews

Current Resident: West Warwick is a great community! I have only lived in West Warwick my whole life but I will try not to be too biased. West Warwick showcases a great diversity of residents in the community. The city is relatively safe, and has a new public track that many people use. One downside to West Warwick is definitely the state of the roads, and constant construction. However if you do not mind the bump roads it is a nice place to be.... Read 82 reviews

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• Population 30,823

• 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  49 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 49 reviews

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• Population 11,166

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.46 out of 5  167 reviews

Current Resident: While the public schools in Pawtucket are not necessarily the best, I am a college student living in Pawtucket due to its relatively inexpensive cost, increasing quality of life, emergence of artist communities, and proximity to downtown Providence. The diversity of the communities as well as the up and coming nature of the area make it a great place to sit back and enjoy some really cool cultural and social change in the heart of New England.... Read 167 reviews

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• Population 75,200

• 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 3.8 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

• grade B

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• Population 12,537

• 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

• 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

• 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 3.61 out of 5  71 reviews

Current Resident: I have been living in North Providence for 22 years now and it is a charming and friendly community with a small town feel. There are beautiful parks and local restaurants that serve delicious foods that satisfy my cravings. Providence offers a vibrant city and provides cultural attractions and exciting events. Overall North Providence feels like home, where I have made wonderful memories growing up and I have built strong connections with the people around me. One thing I would say to change is to have more events or activities to bring the community together and engage with one another.... Read 71 reviews

• grade B+

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• Population 33,935

• Suburb of Providence, RI

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  Rating 3.17 out of 5  81 reviews

Former Resident: I loved the diversity in Woonsocket. The way everyone didn't car about each others backgrounds. Even as a inner city place, it was very welcoming and had an inviting tone about it. Overall, there wasn't much to do there and a lot of small businesses didn't thrive. Economically it was pretty bad but as a kid and young teen, it didn't matter much. I had my group of friends and my classes were pretty good. I would say that Woonsocket sculpted me into an open-minded and well-rounded individual.... Read 81 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade B minus

• Population 43,044