Rhode Island
7 Towns Perfect for Retirement in Rhode Island
Rhode Island covers a diminutive 1,214 square miles and is the smallest state in the nation. To put that in perspective, this tiny state can fit into Texas approximately 221 times. Also known as “Little Rhody” and “Ocean State,” Rhode Island holds a surprising distinction unbeknownst to most: it was the first colony to break away from the British Empire and was the first to initiate a military act against it by sinking an English ship in the Narragansett Bay. Aside from its fascinating history, the Ocean State offers an ideal setting for those seeking a coastal lifestyle, with plenty of fresh seafood, scenic beaches, and a vibrant cultural scene to explore. This article will explore the top seven towns to retire.
Jamestown
Jamestown was incorporated more than 300 years ago, making it one of the most historically significant towns in the state. It’s also somewhat of a pop culture sensation, as several movies have been filmed here, including the acclaimed “Moonrise Kingdom,” which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. To learn about the town’s storied history, consider visiting the Beavertail Lighthouse & Museum for your first stop—the 168-year-old lighthouse famously survived a brutal assault by retreating British soldiers amidst the American Revolutionary War but was later restored to operational duties. Today, it stands on a mesmerizing vista on the Conanicut Island while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Another prominent attraction is Fort Getty Park & Campground, a 41-acre area with a beach, a public boat ramp, and dozens of RV and tent sites; the park is also ideal for strolling along scenic trails while enjoying the melodic sounds of birds. And lastly, don’t miss out on an exhilarating boat tour provided by Gansett Cruises to witness historic landmarks such as Castle Hill, Newport Bridge, and Rhode Island’s idyllic shoreline. The 75-minute trip includes live commentary, with the option of viewing the tour from comfy seats in the cabin or the open deck to soak in the fresh air. According to BestPlaces, violent crime stands at a minuscule 7.7 on a scale of 1 to 100, far below the national average of 22.7.
Bristol
The seaport town of Bristol was one of five state capitals of Rhode Island. Presently, Seaport is a peaceful haven and home to the lengthiest ongoing celebration of Independence Day festivities in the country, dating back to 1777. Notable attractions include Coggeshall Farm Museum, a 48-acre coastal farm where you can relive the experiences of salt marsh farmers through interpreters and fun interactive activities. And less than a 10-minute drive away is the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, a botanical paradise sitting on 13 hectares of land. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the summer estate offers over 300 species of trees and shrubs, featuring native Rhode Island plants and exotic varieties while also serving as an ideal venue for bird-watching, nature workshops, and weddings.
Another perk that comes with living in Bristol is the town’s emphasis on community, as this small yet lively town features several events throughout the year, including art nights, the Bristol Fourth of July Celebration, and trivia nights. To live here, median listings cost $579K per Realtor’s data, while median rent costs $2.2K, according to Zillow.
Charlestown
Named after Charles II of England, Charleston boasts a humble population of 7,997 residents as of 2020. This town features ten national historic places, including the historic village of the Narragansetts, the Shannock Historic District, and Fort Ninigret, one of the oldest military posts in the Atlantic coast. To get some fresh ocean air, the Charlestown Breachway is a local favorite, offering beachgoers a remote sandy beach far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, providing all the space you need to unwind and relax. This safe community, which boasts a violent crime rate of just 19.6, is within close proximity to the Wood River Health Medical Center, Burlingame State Park, and Ninigret Park, an enormous 227-acre preserve that features a beach, a cycling track, basketball court, plus a swimming pond.
East Greenwich
Big things come in little packages—and East Greenwich is no different. Despite covering just 16.71 square miles, this mighty small town is home to a waterfront that harbors several bars and restaurants, a cozy library that includes special collections pertaining to Rhode Island’s history, and a dozen National Historic Places, including the Massie Wireless Station, the oldest functioning wireless station in the world. The town is just a 22-minute drive from the state capital of Providence for all your big city needs and only 6.6 miles away from the Big River Management Area, a beautiful nature preserve covering over 8,000 acres of land that is home to evergreens, wetlands, and river streams. The park is famous amongst locals who utilize the park’s 180+ trails for mountain biking, trail running, and Nordic skiing. Residents of Greenwich enjoy living in safe communities, with an overall crime rate of 14.94 per 1,000 residents, good enough for a B+ by CrimeGrade.
Tiverton
Tiverton is a picturesque town on the easter edge of Narragansett Bay. The city harbors two year-round beaches called Fogland Beach and Grinnell’s Beach, both of which display unique features. The architecture in Tiverton consists of 18th-century-themed buildings, with many restaurants and boutique shops available to explore. To settle here, average rent hovers at $1.8K, according to RentCafe, while homes cost $488K per Redfin’s latest data. Safety is not something taken for granted by the city, as NeighborhoodScout’s data suggests a modest crime rate of just 9 per 1,000 residents, making Tiverton one of the safest towns in the region. Last but not least, Tiverton is home to six historic places registered on the National Register of Historic Places. One of them is the Tiverton Four Corners Historic District, a 50-acre village offering the finest Colonial, Greek Revival, and Victorian architecture.
Glocester
This 293-year-old town has something for everybody. Enjoy nature? Go all out in the Pulaski State Park and Recreational Area, a 4,000-acre park, to relish outdoors, hike, cross-country ski, and savor some of the best trout fish in the area. Want to know how previous generations lived and what they used? Visit The Town Trader antique shop, the oldest building in the Historic Chepachet Village. And be sure not to miss the beloved Petersen Farm, where you can buy lush Christmas trees while being surrounded by crisp farmland. According to Realtor, median listings stand at a modest $430K in a seller’s market as of 2024. The town is also just 19.4 miles away from Providence and less than an hour away from Boston—giving you the best of both worlds at your convenience.
Woonsocket
How many towns can say they have 37 historic sites? Woonsocket can! This small town features an eye-popping number of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the many that stand out are the 98-year-old and still operational Stadium Theatre Performs Arts Centre, in addition to the Woonsocket Civil War Monument, and the Woonsocket Rubber Company Mill, one of the earliest producers of rubber goods in Rhode Island. Interestingly, this town was also the place (along with Providence) where the film “The Purge: Election Year” was filmed. To settle in Woonsocket, Median listings based on 88 homes for sale on Realtor stand at $354K, while the average rent is $1.5K, according to Zumper. The town is also home to the Landmark Medical Center, several authentic eateries, and a crime rate of 23.7 per 1,000 residents.
In conclusion, while Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation, it offers a plethora of unique towns to call home and retire in, each offering a rich tapestry of history and picturesque settings. Whether it’s the natural beauty of Tiverton, or the dozens of historic sites in Woonsocket, Little Rhody offers a surprisingly large variety of vibrant and safe towns to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle for your golden years.
Rhode Island
R.I. legislative commission recommends medical school at URI, suggests $20m in ‘seed funding’ – The Boston Globe
“It’s clear that enabling Rhode Island students to more affordably enter the primary care field, and supporting them once they make that choice, is both feasible and necessary,” Lauria said.
URI President Marc Parlange, also the commission’s co-chairman, said the medical school would be a “natural and strategic extension” of URI’s work. “It would help address Rhode Island’s primary care shortage while strengthening our state’s economy,” he said in a statement.
Lauria said the commission is calling for the state to provide $20 million in “initial seed funding” for the medical school in the state budget for fiscal year 2027, and $22.5 million in annual state funding beginning in 2029, when the first class of students would arrive. The commission also recommended the General Assembly create “a dedicated, recurring budget line to support ongoing medical school planning, accreditation, and initial operational activities.”
In an October report, the Tripp Umbach consulting firm told the commission the school’s start-up costs would total $175 million, and the commission called for exploring federal grants, a direct state budget appropriation, and a statewide bond referendum.
The consultants projected the medical school would be financially stable by its third year of operation, with costs offset by tuition revenue, clinical partnerships, and research growth. And the consultants projected the school would end up generating $196 million in annual economic activity, support about 1,335 jobs, and contribute $4.5 million in annual state and local tax revenue.
During a Rhode Map Live event in June, some officials called the medical school proposal a distraction from addressing the immediate need to provide more financial support and to improve the shortage of primary care doctors.
“In terms of the problem we face today, that won’t fix it,” Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said at the time. “As the head of Anchor [Medical Associates] said to me when I talked to him, that’s like telling the patient that the inexperienced doctor will be with you in a decade.”
But Lauria said the Senate is pursing short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to the shortage of primary care doctors, and the medical school is a long-term solution.
In the short term, Lauria said legislators pushed to speed up a Medicaid rate review aimed at boosting reimbursements for primary care doctors. And she noted the Senate passed legislation prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary health care services.
Lauria, who is a primary care nurse practitioner, said Rhode Island is lagging behind other states in Medicaid reimbursement rates. For example, she said, she practices medicine in East Greenwich, but if she did so 23 miles away Massachusetts, she could make 20 percent to 30 percent more.
Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, noted if the Legislature doesn’t act now on a public medical school, it might be having the same conversation in a decade, she said.
Lawson said her own primary care doctor is retiring at the end of March. “We know that we need to recruit physicians here and we need to retain them,” she said.
The commission report acknowledged that a URI medical school would not solve the state’s primary care problem. “Educating more clinicians is necessary but not sufficient for increasing supply,” the report states.
Doctors tend to stay where they train, so Rhode Island must have a plan to produce more primary care doctors through a residency strategy that incentivizes training more primary care doctors and trains them in places such as community health centers, the report states. Appropriate payment for primary care, reduced administrative burdens for clinicians, and lower uninsured rates could also be considered.
The commission called for creating a Primary Care Commission “to ensure continued focus on achieving a primary care–oriented system of care.” The commission also called for the development of a scholarship program linked to a minimum five-year obligation to local primary care practice.
The commission voted 15-0 in favor of the report. Senator Thomas J. Paolino, a Lincoln Republican on the commission, said, “The importance of this issue cannot be understated. My colleagues and I continually hear from constituents frustrated by skyrocketing healthcare costs, severe workplace shortages, and especially limited access to primary care.”
The commission began its work in 2024 when then-Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio named 21 people to the panel. In February 2025, the Joint Committee on Legislative Services approved $150,000 for a feasibility study. Tripp Umbach made a presentation on its draft of the report in May.
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.
Rhode Island
As Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut dig out of major snowstorm, light snow continues with abnormally cold temps ahead with new potential storm looming
Southern New England hasn’t even finished digging out of over a foot of snow that dropped Sunday into Monday without talks of a significant storm possible in the coming days.
According to the National Weather Service, periods of light to moderate snow continue behind
low pressure as it pulls offshore Monday.
The surface low is well into the north Atlantic by noon today and the expected dry slot has moved overhead shutting off efficient snow making. So, while lingering wrap around moisture will continue to produce light snow across the region today, lack of moisture and the strong forcing that we saw on Sunday will mean much less in the way of additional snowfall today. Overall, expecting 1-2 inches in inland Southern New England with 2-5 inches more likely as you get closer to the extreme eastern and northeastern MA coastline. This is where NE wind
trajectory off the water together with convergence ahead of a front late in the day will lead to a pickup in snow coverage by the afternoon/evening.
After Monday, abnormally cold and mostly dry air enters with yet another storm possible off the coast next weekend.
Quiet weather then follows our active start to the week as dry, abnormally cold NW flow lingers overhead most of the week. Temperatures remain well below normal each day. Normal
highs/lows for late January are in the mid 30s and low 20s respectively; we are forecasting highs in the teens and 20s with lows in the single digits thanks to an anomalously cold airmass
overhead. A few shortwaves rounding the broader trough could bring some flurries off and on but on the whole, things look dry. The National Weather Service continues to monitor a potential storm off the coast toward next weekend. Can we make it 3 Sunday coastal storms in a row? We`ll see!
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