Cities may have the nightlife, but the convenience and affordability of the suburbs are becoming hot as the millennial generation moves into its . Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shook up workplace norms and superheated the housing market, folks have been flocking away from major urban centers.
In Colorado, for instance, lesser-known suburbs outside of Denver such as Boulder have become magnets for young parents, ranking among the for out-of-state millennials who chose to move in 2023. And companies are taking note of the trend as well: Many are and new headquarters in less urban areas.
compiled a list of the best suburbs to live in Rhode Island using data from Niche's . Niche ranks places to live based on an array of factors, including the cost of living, educational level of residents, housing costs, and quality of schools.
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1 / 15#15. Cranston, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,466
- Population: 82,691
- Median household income: $83,123
- Median home value: $326,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,270 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: The Greene School (grade A minus), Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A minus), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
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2 / 15#14. Smithfield, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,423
- Population: 22,086
- Median household income: $93,179
- Median home value: $371,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $988 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Raymond C. LaPerche School (grade A), Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A minus), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
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3 / 15#13. Bristol, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,120
- Population: 22,420
- Median household income: $91,382
- Median home value: $426,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,276 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Rockwell School (grade B+), Guiteras Elementary School (grade B+), Colt Andrews School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), St. Andrew's School (grade A+), Barrington Christian Academy (grade A)
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4 / 15#12. Middletown, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,095
- Population: 17,009
- Median household income: $97,555
- Median home value: $480,100 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,652 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Aquidneck School (grade A minus), Middletown High School (grade B+), Joseph H. Gaudet School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), Quest Montessori School (grade A+)
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5 / 15#11. Narragansett, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,074
- Population: 14,623
- Median household income: $90,214
- Median home value: $600,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,681 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Narragansett Elementary School (grade A), Narragansett High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Prout School (grade A minus), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
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6 / 15#10. Cumberland, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 2,042
- Population: 36,276
- Median household income: $109,466
- Median home value: $370,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,129 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Community School (grade A), North Cumberland Middle School (grade A), Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
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7 / 15#9. Portsmouth, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,967
- Population: 17,846
- Median household income: $107,010
- Median home value: $483,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,731 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Portsmouth Middle School (grade A minus), Portsmouth High School (grade A minus), Melville School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), Nazarene Christian Academy (grade B+)
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8 / 15#8. Lincoln, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,713
- Population: 22,476
- Median household income: $104,258
- Median home value: $384,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,205 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A minus), Lincoln Middle School (grade A minus), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
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9 / 15#7. Jamestown, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,500
- Population: 5,554
- Median household income: $131,875
- Median home value: $736,600 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,623 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Jamestown School-Lawn (grade A), Jamestown School-Melrose (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), The Prout School (grade A minus)
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10 / 15#6. Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,446
- Population: 8,866
- Median household income: $120,365
- Median home value: $342,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $983 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Community School (grade A), North Cumberland Middle School (grade A), Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+), Saint Raphael Academy (grade A)
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11 / 15#5. North Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,280
- Population: 27,719
- Median household income: $116,053
- Median home value: $444,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,161 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Wickford Middle School (grade A), Hamilton School (grade A), Kingston Hill Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. George's School (grade A+), Rocky Hill Country Day School (grade A+), Bishop Hendricken High School (grade A)
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12 / 15#4. Kingston, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,246
- Population: 6,560
- Median household income: $108,056
- Median home value: $458,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,568 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), The Compass School (grade B+), Broad Rock Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Prout School (grade A minus), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
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13 / 15#3. South Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 1,204
- Population: 31,928
- Median household income: $108,474
- Median home value: $467,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,334 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Narragansett Elementary School (grade A), The Greene School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Prout School (grade A minus), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
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14 / 15#2. Barrington, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 496
- Population: 17,121
- Median household income: $145,028
- Median home value: $549,800 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,670 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Barrington High School (grade A+), Barrington Middle School (grade A), Nayatt School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
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15 / 15#1. East Greenwich, Rhode Island
- Overall Rank: 412
- Population: 14,285
- Median household income: $155,037
- Median home value: $568,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $962 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Frenchtown School (grade A), Meadowbrook Farms School (grade A), East Greenwich High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 40 states.
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