The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.
Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a . But a good location comes with a cost.
showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.
What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.
used data from to examine the best suburbs in Providence. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.
Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Providence.
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1 / 15#15. Cranston, Rhode Island
- Population: 82,691
- Median home value: $326,000
- Median rental price: $1,270
- Top schools nearby: The Greene School (grade A鈭�), Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A鈭�), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A鈭�
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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2 / 15#14. Smithfield, Rhode Island
- Population: 22,086
- Median home value: $371,400
- Median rental price: $988
- Top schools nearby: Raymond C. LaPerche School (grade A), Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A鈭�), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A鈭�
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B鈭�
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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3 / 15#13. Bristol, Rhode Island
- Population: 22,420
- Median home value: $426,000
- Median rental price: $1,276
- Top schools nearby: Rockwell School (grade B+), Guiteras Elementary School (grade B+), Colt Andrews School (grade B)
- Top private schools nearby: Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), St. Andrew's School (grade A+), Barrington Christian Academy (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A鈭�
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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4 / 15#12. Middletown, Rhode Island
- Population: 17,009
- Median home value: $480,100
- Median rental price: $1,652
- Top schools nearby: Aquidneck School (grade A鈭�), Middletown High School (grade B+), Joseph H. Gaudet School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), Quest Montessori School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A鈭�
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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5 / 15#11. Narragansett, Rhode Island
- Population: 14,623
- Median home value: $600,200
- Median rental price: $1,681
- Top schools nearby: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Narragansett Elementary School (grade A), Narragansett High School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: The Prout School (grade A鈭�), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A鈭�
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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6 / 15#10. Cumberland, Rhode Island
- Population: 36,276
- Median home value: $370,600
- Median rental price: $1,129
- Top schools nearby: Community School (grade A), North Cumberland Middle School (grade A), Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B鈭�
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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7 / 15#9. Portsmouth, Rhode Island
- Population: 17,846
- Median home value: $483,700
- Median rental price: $1,731
- Top schools nearby: Portsmouth Middle School (grade A鈭�), Portsmouth High School (grade A鈭�), Melville School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), Nazarene Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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8 / 15#8. Lincoln, Rhode Island
- Population: 22,476
- Median home value: $384,900
- Median rental price: $1,205
- Top schools nearby: Blackstone Valley Prep High School (grade A鈭�), Lincoln Middle School (grade A鈭�), Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B鈭�
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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9 / 15#7. Jamestown, Rhode Island
- Population: 5,554
- Median home value: $736,600
- Median rental price: $1,623
- Top schools nearby: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Jamestown School-Lawn (grade A), Jamestown School-Melrose (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: St. George's School (grade A+), Portsmouth Abbey School (grade A+), The Prout School (grade A鈭�)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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10 / 15#6. Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island
- Population: 8,866
- Median home value: $342,900
- Median rental price: $983
- Top schools nearby: Community School (grade A), North Cumberland Middle School (grade A), Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+), Saint Raphael Academy (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A鈭�
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11 / 15#5. North Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Population: 27,719
- Median home value: $444,200
- Median rental price: $1,161
- Top schools nearby: Wickford Middle School (grade A), Hamilton School (grade A), Kingston Hill Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: St. George's School (grade A+), Rocky Hill Country Day School (grade A+), Bishop Hendricken High School (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: B鈭�
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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12 / 15#4. Kingston, Rhode Island
- Population: 6,560
- Median home value: $458,600
- Median rental price: $1,568
- Top schools nearby: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), The Compass School (grade B+), Broad Rock Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: The Prout School (grade A鈭�), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A鈭�
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13 / 15#3. South Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Population: 31,928
- Median home value: $467,400
- Median rental price: $1,334
- Top schools nearby: Kingston Hill Academy (grade A), Narragansett Elementary School (grade A), The Greene School (grade A鈭�)
- Top private schools nearby: The Prout School (grade A鈭�), Quest Montessori School (grade A+), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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14 / 15#2. Barrington, Rhode Island
- Population: 17,121
- Median home value: $549,800
- Median rental price: $1,670
- Top schools nearby: Barrington High School (grade A+), Barrington Middle School (grade A), Nayatt School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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15 / 15#1. East Greenwich, Rhode Island
- Population: 14,285
- Median home value: $568,700
- Median rental price: $962
- Top schools nearby: Frenchtown School (grade A), Meadowbrook Farms School (grade A), East Greenwich High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Wheeler School (grade A+), Lincoln School (grade A+), Moses Brown School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B鈭�
--- Cost of living grade: B鈭�
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.
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