Provincetown, Rhode Island

Provincetown is a highly welcoming community with an emphasis on tolerance. The city’s long been known as an enclave of fishermen, hospitality workers, and the queer community, all of whom are eager to add new people to their shared home. This is combined with gorgeous beaches, a natural deepwater harbor, parades, and other cultural events, you will find no shortage of warm welcome in Provincetown. Particularly if you are a member of the queer community, you will find one of the oldest and safest enclaves for your LGBTQ siblings in the entire country, with a completely normalized atmosphere of inclusion for queer couples who wish to engage in public displays of affection.

The lack of affordable housing is the biggest challenge for the city. Simply put, finding a year-round home for purchase or rental is very difficult, with a median home value of $666,700 and a median rent of $1,113. Add into this cost of living challenge the fact that most of the shopping is boutique (meaning expensive) and the fact that the majority of the population, and thus the workforce, clears out during the winter, and year-round living becomes a challenge. A common complaint about Provincetown is that they need more year-round workers, but the city is simply too expensive to afford on a service worker budget. Essentially, Provincetown is the easiest to move to if money is not an object for you.

Provincetown’s history as a safe harbor for queer Americans is long-standing and noteworthy. It is an incredibly popular spot for both individuals and families to visit and for those who can afford it, relocate full-time. It boasts a Pride Parade every year, with options for adults and children alike. Artists often flock to Provincetown for the colorful and creative atmosphere, with art festivals and expos among the most popular local events. And of course, fishermen do well in Provincetown thanks to the natural deepwater harbor, with the long history of Portuguese immigrants forming a large part of the workforce. That said, it is often difficult to find full-time, year-round work due to many of the jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries being less active during the Winter months. The median age of Provincetown is also on the higher side at 57, something to note before you relocate.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Provincetown, check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Provincetown and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

K-8 students are serviced by Provincetown’s International Baccalaureate school. Provincetown High School closed in 2010 due to declining enrollment. Since then, high school-aged residents have been redistricted to Nauset Regional High School. Other options in the area include Sturgis Charter Public School and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. Due to the relatively low population of minors in Provincetown, families should give some thought to their children’s educational needs before relocating.