The 10 Worst Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2021

The 10 Worst Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2021

Pascoag, sitting in the northwest part of the state, straddles the Pascoag Reservoir, providing a significant source of waterfront and boating fun. You can also get an additional taste of the outdoors at the nearby Pulaski/Washington State Forest.

At the same time, the town boasts a strong economy. The median income around $85,000 and the unemployment rate stands at 6.6%. With all these benefits, how did the town end up the number 1 worst spot in Rhode Island?

Well, Pascoag suffers from isolation. The community of just 4,594 people has very little diversity. And at 40 minutes from Providence, any commute to a major urban area becomes a hassle.

When you’re looking at science and data, the city of Woonsocket is the 2nd worst place you can live in the state of Rhode Island. Let’s see why.

Residents who live in Woonsocket, located on the Massachusetts border, have the 10th most crimes in the state committed against them. Factor in a much-lower income level–per resident–and homes valued around $173,300, and you’ve got yourself a crummy place to live. In terms of comparing it to the rest of Rhode Island, that is.

Side note: Woonsocket is the birthplace of former NHL goalie Brian Boucher.

Sitting just north of Pawtucket on the eastern edge of the state, Central Falls is part of the metropolitan sprawl that surrounds Providence. Poverty represents the major challenge for the 19,429 residents of the city, landing it at number 3 on this list.

The poverty rate sits at 30.2%, a product of a 6.8% unemployment rate and a $32,982 median income. These financial woes lead to other issues. Most of the schools in the area rank a 5/10 or worse on Great Schools. And at $159,100, the median home price is out of the reach for many of Central Falls’ low-income inhabitants.

In most ways, Providence represents the key city in Rhode Island. It’s the biggest urban area and the state capital. It also serves as a kind of historical monument, with a continuous history as a settlement stretching back to 1636.

Unfortunately, the community also has its challenges. Poverty stands as a huge problem, with 1 in 4 residents struggling below the poverty line. Safety is a concern as well. The city’s crime rate runs 40% above the national average.

Still, there are reasons people have lived in town for nearly 400 years. It features a long waterfront and a significant number of historical attractions. It’s also the home to the Rhode Island School of Design.

Famed horror writer H.P. Lovecraft once came to Chepachet in search of a purported Dark Swamp of evil. The town also gets a shout out on the TV show The X-Files. Scary stuff.

The real Chepachet may not serve as the home for a supernatural terror. But it does have its share of more mundane problems.

Specifically, the community of 1,530 faces issues related to its remote location. (Maybe that’s where those Dark Swamp rumors started too.) Situated in the northwest part of the state, Chepachet suffers from a lack of amenities. Diversity is also scarce and the education system falls below expectations.

What could be better than living in Harmony? It’s a Buddhist’s dream: to reach an exalted level of spiritual balance, harmony with nature and the cosmos. Unfortunately, this Harmony doesn’t attain that kind of nirvana. Instead, it ranks as the number 6 worst location in Rhode Island.

Truthfully, things are generally pretty good in Harmony, at least on the financial front. The economy supports a median income of $91,181 and the poverty rate comes in at a puny 7.1%. The town also boasts strong schools and good housing.

However, there are issues. Situated away from major urban areas, Harmony experiences a shortage of amenities and almost nonexistent diversity.

Harrisville is a small city located not too far away from Pascoag. Three of the top 5 worst places to live in Rhode Island are on the northern part of the state. You can make your own assumptions from there.

Harrisville has a very-high crime rate, is respect to the state norm, an unemployment rate of 0.0%, and it’s one of the least densely populated places in the state, meaning there’s probably not a lot to do except cheer on the Sox and watch hockey.

For 50 years, Pawtucket hosted the AAA minor-league baseball affiliate for the Boston Red Sox. In 2020, after attempts to build a new stadium failed, the Pawtucket Red Sox moved to Worcester. Take that as a metaphor for the town as a whole. It ranks as the 8th worst place to live in Rhode Island for 2021.

Why would you want to move away from Pawtucket? (Besides not getting a new baseball stadium, that is.) Well, the city, located just outside of Providence, supports a sluggish economy, including an unemployment rate of 7.1%. High crime and weak schools are problems as well.

In addition, the area is relatively expensive. The cost of living tracks at 10% above the national average, with a median home value of $194,600. This compares to a median income of $50,476.

Valley Falls ranks as the 9th worst place to live in Rhode Island for 2021, let’s take a look at why.

Valley Falls was an early manufacturing hub in the country. A firm started in town in 1839 continues to exist today as Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate run by billionaire Warren Buffett. However, Berkshire is now headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Guess the Valley Falls glory days are a century or two in the past.

To be fair, the economy of this town, located in the northeast corner of the state, is actually rather strong. The median income equals $83,090 and the unemployment rate hovers at 3.2%.

Despite this economic base, the town faces other problems. For instance, the school system is spotty and any real diversity is lacking.

Tiverton is a coastal town located across the Sakonnet River from Aquidneck Island. As a result, it’s physically separated from the main part of Rhode Island. (If you’re afraid of crossing bridges, you’ll have to drive through Massachusetts to get to Providence.)

This comes with benefits. The area has plenty of natural beauty and access to beaches, like Fogland Beach. These amenities, though, come with a high cost of living. The desire for summer getaways drives up housing costs, with a median home value in town of $258,800. At the same time, the isolation leads to low diversity in the community.