place in Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island, and what the state lacks in size, it makes up for in affordable places to live.
However, the trick is knowing how to navigate this New England state’s above-average cost of living. And that’s why we set out to determine the top ten most affordable places in Rhode Island for 2024. We used Saturday Night Science and Census census data on incomes, housing costs, and the cost of living in places with more than 6,000 residents.
We discovered that whether it’s hip cities like Cranston, family-oriented cities like Westerly, or great places to retire to like Woonsocket, Rhode Island has plenty of affordable places to live for every stage of life.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Rhode Island
What’s the cheapest place to live in Rhode Island? The cheapest place to live in Rhode Island is Woonsocket for 2024.
When you spend less on your bills, the more you’ll have to spend on fun things to do like a beach vacation in Newport or tickets to the Rhythm and Blues Festival in Charleston.
Check out some more reading about Rhode Island and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2024
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Population: 43,029
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $54,398
Median Home Price: $338,485
Median Rent: $1,066
Your pocketbook will swoon in Woonsocket, the cheapest place to live in Rhode Island for 2024. Home prices play a significant role in this list, and the average home price in Woonsocket is the second lowest in the state at $338,485, according to Zillow.
While even cheap places in Rhode Island are more expensive than the national average, Woonsocket stands out as a pocket of affordability in the Ocean State.
More on Woonsocket: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 22,359
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $43,092
Median Home Price: $313,807
Median Rent: $1,052
Central Falls came in a close second for the cheapest city in Rhode Island. The overall cost of living index of 105 tied Woonsocket, but population size broke the tie.
The average income in Central Falls is $43,092, and the average rent is $1,052, which combine to make you fall over in excitement.
More on Central Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 189,715
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $61,365
Median Home Price: $365,946
Median Rent: $1,214
Providence, Rhode Island’s thriving capital, stands out for its affordability, with an average home price and rent ranked at fifth and seventh cheapest statewide, respectively. With the cost of living just above the national average, the 106 overall cost of living index is 6 points lower than the state average.
There are almost infinite cheap things to do in Providence, including Roger Williams Park Zoo and Providence’s Children’s Museum.
More on Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 75,176
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $62,799
Median Home Price: $343,911
Median Rent: $1,081
With its affordable living costs and thriving community, Pawtucket is definitely a great place to call home. Pawtucket is conveniently located near major cities like Providence and Boston, making it an ideal location for those who work or study in those areas. This city offers a median home value of $343,911 and a median rent of $1,081.
Despite its affordable living costs, Pawtucket has plenty to offer its residents. This city boasts a diverse community and rich history, with attractions such as Slater Mill Museum and Pawtucket Arts Festival.
More on Pawtucket: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 47,012
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $71,736
Median Home Price: $381,790
Median Rent: $1,186
East Providence is the 5th biggest and fifth cheapest place to call home in Rhode Island for 2024. We already named East Providence one of the best cities for families in Rhode Island thanks to great schools and the abundance of stuff like the Crescent Park Carousel around.
Finding out it’s also affordable is a big win for families thinking about moving here. And for younger people looking for nightlife, there’s also Comedy Connection, which pulls big-name performers all the time.
So plenty to do, family-friendly, low crime rates, and a low cost of living; how much will it cost to move here? Homes in East Providence sell for a median price of $381,790, and rent goes for around $1,186. The median household income in East Providence is also quite high at $71,736.
More on East Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 12,072
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $93,901
Median Home Price: $410,692
Median Rent: $1,049
You’d have a hard time believing that you’re living in one of the most expensive states in America if you call Valley Falls home. That’s because homes in Valley Falls are the eighth least expensive statewide, with a median price of $410,692. And the fact that residents of Valley Falls pay the second smallest portion of their income on rent statewide. That’s with a median rent of $1,049/month and a median income of $93,901/year.
Valley Falls is located just north of Pawtucket, on the Massachusetts border.
More on Valley Falls: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 82,691
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $83,123
Median Home Price: $392,034
Median Rent: $1,270
We turn from the very small to the second biggest city in Rhode Island, Cranston, to wrap up our list of most affordable places to live in the Ocean State. Cranston is home to one of the best kept-secrets in New England tourism, Pawtuxet Village, an enchanting area for harbor views, grand old homes, restaurants, and Mom-and-Pop shops. Cranston has the seventh lowest home prices in Rhode Island, at a median cost of $392,034. If you’re not ready to settle down just yet, though, the median rent in Cranston is $1,270. When considered with Cranston’s median income of $83,123, Cranston is the sixth most affordable place for renters in Rhode Island.
More on Cranston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 82,783
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $81,009
Median Home Price: $364,360
Median Rent: $1,295
We turn now to Warwick, the eighth most affordable place to call home in Little Rhody. Homesnacks has already given Warwick a 9/10 on our overall SnackAbility scale and named it one of the best places to live in Rhode Island, thanks to its safe streets, good schools, and rock-solid economy. Getting all that for some of the lowest prices statewide? Yes, please! While Warwick is the least economical place to rent on this list, with a median rent of $1,295, the city more than makes up for it by having the fourth cheapest homes in the state. You can grab a home in Warwick for about $364,360, which combined with a median income of $81,009 gives the city the third best home price to income ratio in Rhode Island. There are too many things to do in Warwick to report here, but a top choice for versatility would be Goddard Memorial State Park; a beach, a golf course, BBQ grills, and trails for runners, cyclists, and horseback riders alike all make this park a destination you’re sure to come back to over and over.
More on Warwick: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Not sure who you are or if youve ever been to Warwick, but where I live in Warwick it is very peaceful and quite. Every town/city gets a few nuckleheads, but thats no reason to say that we are one of the worse places to live. This whole world is gone mad.
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Population: 8,101
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $86,102
Median Home Price: $477,304
Median Rent: $1,223
Tiverton is a great place to live in Rhode Island due to its affordability. With a median home value of $477,304 and a median rent of $1,223, Tiverton ranks as one of the state’s most affordable places to live. The home price-to-income ratio is only 5.54, which is lower than many other areas in Rhode Island.
Not only is Tiverton affordable, but it’s also a beautiful place to call home. Located in Newport County, Tiverton has a population of 8,101 and offers a small-town feel with plenty of outdoor activities. Residents can take advantage of local parks, hiking trails, and beaches. Additionally, Tiverton’s overall cost of living is lower than the national average, making it an ideal spot for those who want to save money without sacrificing quality of life.
More on Tiverton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,866
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $120,365
Median Home Price: $436,265
Median Rent: $983
You may wonder why we included Cumberland Hill as the tenth cheapest place to live in Rhode Island. After all, Cumberland Hill does have the most expensive homes you’ll see on this list, with a median price of $436,265. But when you consider that Cumberland Hill is the richest place in Rhode Island, everything falls into place. Because with a median income of $120,365, Cumberland Hill has the best home price to income ratio in the state. And with an unemployment rate under 1%, you better believe nobody’s getting left out of the party here.
What’s more, Cumberland Hill is an absolute godsend for renters; with a median rent of $983, residents pay the smallest portion of their income on rent statewide. As a savings bonus, living in Cumberland Hill will give you the opportunity to use the wonderfully-maintained Blackstone River Bikeway, thus cutting down on your travel costs.
More on Cumberland Hill: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Rhode Island FAQs
The county in Rhode Island with the lowest cost of living is Bristol County. The average living wage in Bristol County is $93,989 according to MIT data. Bristol County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Rhode Island as a whole. Childcare costs $18,027 a year in Bristol County for two children compared to the Rhode Island average of $18,739. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $13,776 per year in Bristol County compared to $13,956 on average in Rhode Island.
The cost of living in Rhode Island is 5.9% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Rhode Island is $95,005 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Rhode Island household is $70,305.
The cheapest housing market in Rhode Island is Melville. The average home value in Melville is $0, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Rhode Island is $276,600, almost nan times higher than Melville.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Ocean State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Rhode Island boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Rhode Island using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Rhode Island to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 15 places in Rhode Island that have more than 6,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Rhode Island with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Woonsocket.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Rhode Island for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Rhode Island.
The cheapest cities in Rhode Island are Woonsocket, Central Falls, Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, Valley Falls, Cranston, Warwick, Tiverton, and Cumberland Hill.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Rhode Island according to the data:
- Newport
- Kingston
- Newport East
For more Rhode Island reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Rhode Island
- Best Places To Buy A House In Rhode Island
Cheapest Places To Live In Rhode Island
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woonsocket | 43,029 | 105 | $54,398 | $338,485 | $1,066 |
| 2 | Central Falls | 22,359 | 105 | $43,092 | $313,807 | $1,052 |
| 3 | Providence | 189,715 | 106 | $61,365 | $365,946 | $1,214 |
| 4 | Pawtucket | 75,176 | 106 | $62,799 | $343,911 | $1,081 |
| 5 | East Providence | 47,012 | 108 | $71,736 | $381,790 | $1,186 |
| 6 | Valley Falls | 12,072 | 109 | $93,901 | $410,692 | $1,049 |
| 7 | Cranston | 82,691 | 111 | $83,123 | $392,034 | $1,270 |
| 8 | Warwick | 82,783 | 113 | $81,009 | $364,360 | $1,295 |
| 9 | Tiverton | 8,101 | 113 | $86,102 | $477,304 | $1,223 |
| 10 | Cumberland Hill | 8,866 | 115 | $120,365 | $436,265 | $983 |
| 11 | Greenville | 8,777 | 118 | $92,367 | $445,455 | $1,391 |
| 12 | Westerly | 18,272 | 121 | $86,343 | $529,378 | $1,283 |
| 13 | Newport East | 11,644 | 124 | $90,659 | $565,274 | $1,542 |
| 14 | Newport | 25,087 | 133 | $81,330 | $827,429 | $1,527 |