This Rhode Island Coastal Town Offers Affordable Retirement, Scenic Trails, And Historic Neighborhoods

Providence and Rhode Island in general are often heralded as excellent places to retire. Kiplinger recently named Providence the fourth best place to retire in New England, and with so much going on in the area, it's easy to see why. However, the region has several different suburbs and neighborhoods to choose from, so picking the right one for you depends on balancing affordability and the lifestyle you seek. 

West Warwick is one of those quiet residential towns, wedged between Coventry and Warwick, home of the seaside Buttonwoods Beach district and the state's biggest airport. While it lies very near the major cities and highways of the Northeastern Corridor, I-95 only barely passes through the city limits before forging the path onto Providence. Most of the town instead follows the meandering and quiet bows of the Pawtuxet River. West Warwick was founded in 1913, making it the youngest city in Rhode Island. At the time, it was home to many textile mills along the river. The historic buildings still stand today; some have been converted into lofts and apartments. 

According to Niche, the population of West Warwick is about 31,000, while the city's median home value is just under $300,000, which is slightly below the national average. The site rates the city as one of the top 50 best places to retire in Rhode Island. Additionally, the cost of living is about 6% lower than the rest of the state, as per Best Places. Coupled with the town's convenient location near Providence and Narragansett Bay, easy transportation links, and access to big city amenities, the little community might just be a hidden bargain. 

One of the great things about West Warwick is the presence of picturesque walking paths and bike trails. The Riverwalk connects Providence and Factory Streets, working its way down the riverbank between some of the historic mill buildings. The West Warwick Greenway is part of the Washington Secondary Bike Path that runs 19 miles from Cranston to Coventry. Head just south of town to the Big River Management Area for even more time outdoors. This 8,300-acre preserve has woodlands and marshes around the Big, Nooseneck, Congdon, and Carr Rivers. It's crisscrossed with easy and moderate trails ranging from quick 1-mile circuits to lengthy loops up to 20 miles long.

Like any community, finding peace and tranquility in West Warwick depends greatly on which neighborhood you favor. The town's history shaped its layout: Workers from the mills clustered in small villages that are still around today, including Arctic, Crompton, and Riverpoint, among others. According to Homes.com, of the six neighborhoods in West Warwick, Bald Hill is the priciest, with houses averaging $452,000, while Centerville is the least expensive, with an average of $377,000, at the time of this writing.

Convenience is a significant factor when looking at locales like West Warwick. In town, there are several small restaurant choices and independent markets. Chains, big-box stores, and most needed services can be found along Bald Hill Road, just west of the city limits. It's about 20 minutes by car to downtown Providence and only an hour to the charming and picturesque Rhode Island Farm Coast. But there are many great parks, hiking trails, and beaches to explore in the area, like Goddard Memorial State Park, which is just southeast of town on the shores of Greenwich Bay.

If you're coming into town to visit and maybe scope the place out, you have plenty of choices of where to lay your head. Around the airport and I-95, you'll find plenty of budget chain hotel options. If you want to stay in West Warwick, a handful of apartments, houses, and rooms are available on Airbnb and Verb. The choices aren't extensive, but they allow you to sample the community and get a little taste of whether or not living in West Warwick might be for you.

West Warwick is convenient to several major transportation links. Neighboring Warwick is the location of the Rhode Island TF Green International Airport, a hub for the area with many airline connections. Trains from the airport connect to Providence and Boston. At Providence, Amtrak connections can take you nearly anywhere by rail. The town is also located along I-95, providing quick highway access to points north and south. 

Like much of southern New England, coastal Rhode Island sees moderate to warm summers and cold winters. Average highs in July are around 82 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter nights get down into the low 20s. An average of about 9 inches of snow occurs in January. The region's peak season for tourism and outdoor activities is between June and September.