Best places to live in Rhode Island

What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Rhode Island using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

#10. Cumberland Hill
- Population: 8,249
- Median home value: $262,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $921 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $89,456
- Top public schools: Blackstone Valley Prep Elementary School 3 (A+), North Cumberland Middle School (A), Community School (A)
- Top private schools: Cherry Blossom Journey School

#9. Cumberland
- Population: 34,846
- Median home value: $288,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $954 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $91,726
- Top public schools: Blackstone Valley Prep Elementary School 3 (A+), North Cumberland Middle School (A), Community School (A)
- Top private schools: Mercymount Country Day School (A+)

#8. Portsmouth
- Population: 17,363
- Median home value: $386,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,450 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $100,453
- Top public schools: Portsmouth High School (A-), Melville School (A-), Portsmouth Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: Portsmouth Abbey School (A+), The Pennfield School (A), St. Philomena School (B)

#7. Narragansett
- Population: 15,500
- Median home value: $444,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,389 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $86,920
- Top public schools: Narragansett High School (A-), Narragansett Elementary School (A-), Narragansett Pier School (A-)
- Top private schools: Middlebridge School (A-), Quest Montessori School (A+), Ocean Tides School

#6. Jamestown
- Population: 5,494
- Median home value: $656,800 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,660 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $111,110
- Top public schools: Jamestown School-Lawn (A-)

#5. South Kingstown
- Population: 30,652
- Median home value: $371,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,287 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $89,917
- Top public schools: Kingston Hill Academy (A+), Narragansett High School (A-), Broad Rock Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: The Prout School (A), Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School (A), Child Development Center at University of Rhode Island (A)

#4. North Kingstown
- Population: 26,235
- Median home value: $350,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,027 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $91,796
- Top public schools: Hamilton School (A), North Kingstown Senior High School (A), Wickford Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: West Bay Christian Academy (A), South County Montessori School, Cadence Academy Preschool - North Kingstown

#3. Kingston
- Population: 6,513
- Median home value: $355,900 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,179 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $96,775
- Top public schools: Broad Rock Middle School (A-), South Kingstown High School (A-), Curtis Corner Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: Child Development Center at University of Rhode Island (A)

#2. East Greenwich
- Population: 13,081
- Median home value: $437,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $916 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $114,147
- Top public schools: East Greenwich High School (A+), Frenchtown School (A), Meadowbrook Farms School (A)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Mercy Regional School (A), The Stork's Nest Child Academy - East Greenwich, The Village Lower School

#1. Barrington
- Population: 16,131
- Median home value: $433,200 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,318 (11% rent)
- Median household income: $125,431
- Top public schools: Barrington High School (A+), Nayatt School (A), Barrington Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Andrews School (A+), Barrington Christian Academy (A), St. Luke Elementary School