Warwick is considered one of the safest places to live not just in Rhode Island, but in the entire country. Crime rates are well below the national average, and many residents report feeling safe walking alone at night. Furthermore, you get easy access to the rest of New England and the New York due to the city’s centralized location. That means you experience all the best parts of northeastern life while residing in a safe enclave. Families in particular love to call Warwick home due to its safety and cleanliness, and young urban professionals like it for the work opportunities. 


Safety First

The Best Thing About Warwick

Warwick is the third largest city in the second smallest state in the union, and its population density is high relative to its size. This, combined with its centralized location in the state, can lead to highly congested roads and a claustrophobic feeling for locals. Warwick is home to the state’s largest airport, and as such, many residents report lots of overhead noise. 


Density & Noise

The Worst Thing About Warwick

Warwick is home to a wide variety of activities for a wide range of ages. The bar and brewery scene is some of the best in the state, and numerous high quality restaurants call the city home. From [**Iggy’s Boardwalk**](https://www.facebook.com/iggysboardwalk/) for family friendly atmosphere and eats, to [**The Shanty’s**](https://theshantyri.com/) experimental cuisine, to [**Top of the Bay’s**](https://topofthebayrestaurant.com/) immaculate rooftop seafood experience, foodies will find lots to love in Warwick. The city also boasts beaches and historical sites galore, in part due to Warwick being home to the first true battle of the American Revolution, the Gaspee Affair. A variety of work opportunities also await you in Warwick, with industries ranging from retail to hospitality to healthcare to banking to local government. And with Providence only twelve miles away, it is an easy and manageable daily commute to the state capital. 


Lifestyle of Warwick

Warwick’s public school system gets mixed grades on [**niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/warwick-public-schools-ri/). [**Pilgrim High School**](https://phs.warwickschools.org/) rates a B on niche.com but is also known for a variety of extracurriculars and having a highly successful athletics program. [**Cedar Hill School**](https://cedarhill.warwickschools.org/) comes in higher marks for academics and quality of teachers. [**Rocky Hill Country Day School**](https://www.rockyhill.org/) provides an excellent K-12 private school, while [**Bishop Hendricken High School**](https://hendricken.com/) serves as the local Catholic college preparatory school. The [**Community College of Rhode Island**](https://www.ccri.edu/) Knight School also calls Warwick home and is highly rated by locals. 


Working on it

Schools of Warwick

If you are looking for a safe, secluded slice of New England to raise a family or to simply commute from in comfort, put Warwick on your shortlist.  


Escape

Why Should I Move Here Now?

Located in south-central Warwick on Greenwich Bay, the aptly named Oakland Beach places you directly on the water. It's a great place for walking along the coastline, oceanic kayaking, swimming, or fishing. Iggy’s Boardwalk and Top of the Bay, two of the city’s best restaurants, are situated here. It is a competitive housing market, with a median list price of $367,500. Younger residents attend [**Oakland Beach Elementary School**](https://oaklandbeach.warwickschools.org/). 


Families

Oakland Beach

Located in eastern Warwick, Conimicut provides another beachside community. Ease of access to the water is a high selling point for the area. The village traces its roots back to the founding of Warwick in 1643, making it an ideal home for history buffs with an emphasis on colonial history. Housing prices are comparable to Oakland Beach, if slightly less expensive. [**Warwick Neck Elementary School**](https://warwickneck.warwickschools.org/) educates younger residents before they move on to one of the city’s secondary schools.


Conimicut

Located on a small peninsula on the Providence River, Gaspee Point is the location of the Gaspee Affair, the first act of aggression during the American Revolution. With a public beach, a park, a playground, and excellent saltwater fishing, Gaspee Beach provides a secluded and picturesque seaside community. Average housing cost is between $200,000 and $400,000. It does not have its own elementary school, meaning residents have a short commute to school.



Gaspee Point

Pawtuxet Village lies between Warwick and nearby Cranston, where the Pawtuxet River flows into the Providence River and Narragansett Bay. It's where state founder Roger Williams first made his home, and is also home to the Gaspee Day celebration, making it yet another gem for history enthusiasts. It is also a foodie’s paradise, with a tea room, a Parisian cafe, an Irish pub, a Thai restaurant, and a creperie, amongst many others. Median real estate cost is $383,154, while rental price average cost is $2,228. Elementary schools in Pawtuxet Village include [**Edgewood Highland**](https://edgewood.cpsed.net/), [**Edwards S. Rhodes**](https://rhodes.cpsed.net/), and [**ET Wyman**](https://etwyman.warwickschools.org/), and [**Pilgrim High School**](https://phs.warwickschools.org/) also calls the area home.


Pawtuxet Village

Norwood boasts some of the strongest communities in all of Warwick. Between the [**Boys and Girls Club**](https://www.wbgclubs.org/norwood-branch), one of the city’s oldest public library branches, the [**Norwood Neighborhood Association**](https://www.facebook.com/NorwoodNA/), Norwood Field’s baseball diamond and basketball court, and the highest concentration of churches in the city, Norwood will welcome new neighbors with open arms. Median sale price for homes in Norwood is $360,400. Students attend [**Norwood Elementary**](https://norwood.warwickschools.org/) before moving onto one of the city’s secondary school options.  


Norwood

Warwick

**What are the pros and cons of living in Warwick?**

Pros:

Warwick is a coastal city, which means you have easy access to the beach and water activities.
The city has a low unemployment rate, and job opportunities are plentiful, particularly in healthcare and retail.
Warwick has an excellent school system, making it a great place to raise a family.
The cost of living is lower than the national average, and housing is relatively affordable.
Warwick is located in the heart of Rhode Island, making it a convenient location for exploring other parts of the state.
Cons:

The city is prone to flooding, particularly in low-lying areas.
Public transportation is limited, and most residents rely on cars to get around.
The city can be congested during peak traffic hours, leading to long commute times.
The nightlife scene is relatively quiet, with fewer options for entertainment compared to larger cities.
In terms of safety, Warwick is generally considered a safe city, with a crime rate lower than the national average. Compared to nearby cities/towns like Cranston and Pawtucket, Warwick has a lower crime rate, making it a safer place to live overall.

However, it's worth noting that crime can happen anywhere, and it's always a good idea to take precautions to ensure your safety. This includes locking doors and windows, being aware of your surroundings, and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

**Does anyone here live in the Warwick area? And advice on which areas are good and which to avoid?**

Live in Leamington Spa. It's practically the same town but Leamington is just nicer and there's more there. My advice would be to live in walking distance of the parade (and/or train station if you don't have a car). I lived in Warwick for 6 months and then Leamington for a year and I much preferred Leamington! Was gutted when I left and I wish I could go back! Also everyone says to live north of the river, not really sure why but that's the advice everyone gives. If you want to know more just ask!

And advice on where to live in Warwick?

I've lived in Warwick for the past few years and I don't think there are any areas to avoid to be honest. It's a pretty middle-upper class town, I'd say it's the safest place I've lived so far. There is the area around Warwick Hospital that is slightly dodgier, but we feel fine walking through there at night as well. , On the downside, it is a quiet town and not much to do. It has a few nice restaurants, an M&S in the city center and a few coffee shops but that's about it.

I'd avoid Leamington Spa, personally, it has some nice areas but a lot of dodgy areas as well. It has more pubs and restaurants though and more things to do but you can do those things anyway since LeamingtonWarwick and warwick are connected and it's only a 7 min drive from the center of one to the other and there are plenty of buses that run constantly.




**What am I missing about Warwick?**

I lived in buttonwoods for awhile, Warwick is a good place. Public schools are struggling a bit, the city has been managing a population decline for awhile now… but honestly, it’s perfectly fine. Yes the airport is a bit of an annoyance, and parts of Warwick are strip mall hell, but it’s in close proximity to everything, has good parks, and has nice neighborhoods. Governor Francis, pawtuxet, and cowesset are all great places to live.

Why do people crap on it? Because it’s what Rhode Islanders do. We crap on everything in this state while also NEVER leaving.

Warwick, Rhode Island

Crossroads

Looklyloo Score: 84

We're on it!