Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Rhode Island
You think about moving to Rhode Island but want to get additional information on overall quality of life, living costs, housing, safety, labor market conditions, income levels, cultural diversity, public infrastructure, climate and much more so you can make a profound decision regarding this important topic?
Great! This article is exactly for you since I will show you the pros and cons of living in Rhode Island in the following chapters.
Living in Rhode Island – Overview
Climate | People in Rhode Island experience a continental climate with warm summers and pretty cold winters. |
Housing | Property prices and rents in Rhode Island are slightly above national average, even though they may still be lower than in many other regions in the US. |
Living Costs | Living costs in Rhode Island are above the US average and you may therefore need a solid budget to make a decent living in this region. |
Income | Many people in Rhode Island make pretty good money from their jobs and the median household income is above national average. |
Safety | Rhode Island is a pretty safe state and crime rates are way below national average. |
Education | You will find many decent colleges and schools in the Rhode Island region. |
Job Market | Unemployment rate in Rhode Island is slightly above national average and while highly-qualified people will often find a decent job rather quickly, the opposite might be true for low-qualified people who often have to work under pretty poor conditions. |
Culture | Rhode Island is a culturally diverse place where you will be able to meet many great people from all over the world. |
Leisure Activities | People in Rhode Island spend lots of time fishing, camping, hiking and doing many other things outdoors. |
Landscape | While Rhode Island has some nice forests and rivers, it is also located at the coast and you can therefore spend many nice hours at the beach. |
Infrastructure | Decent public transport and medical infrastructure in most parts of Rhode Island so you may not urgently need a car to get around. |
Level of Tolerance | Rhode Island is a pretty tolerant state so you will be welcome no matter where you come from. |
Nightlife | While you may find some decent bars and clubs, you should still not expect the same great nightlife as people moving to Las Vegas or other more vibrant places are able to experience. |
Total Population | 1.09 million inhabitants. |

Advantages of Living in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island is located at the coast
- Many nice places to hang out in nature in Rhode Island
- You can go fishing, camping and do many other nice things
- People in Rhode Island can get lots of natural exercise
- Many people in Rhode Island may not have to go to the gym
- Decent air quality in many parts of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island has become increasingly popular over the past decades
- Many people will envy and admire you for moving to Rhode Island
- Rhode Island is a pretty tolerant place
- You will be able to meet many helpful people in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island is a great place to socialize
- Many people in Rhode Island are honest and genuine
- You may be able to make many friends for a lifetime
- Rhode Island is a rather quiet place
- Moving to Rhode Island may help you slow down your life
- Many recreational spaces in Rhode Island
- Decent quality of education in most parts of Rhode Island
- Good public transport in the major cities of Rhode Island
- Solid medical infrastructure in Rhode Island
- Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Rhode Island
- Finding a parking lot is rather easy
- Many free things to do in Rhode Island
- Decent nightlife in the major cities of Rhode Island
- High income level in Rhode Island
- Many big corporations to work for
- Highly-qualified people have a rather easy time finding decent jobs
- Rhode Island attracts many talented and ambitious people
- You may be able to build a strong business network rather quickly
- Decent museums in Rhode Island
- You can find decent art scenes in the big cities of Rhode Island
- People in Rhode Island can experience real seasons
- Moving to Rhode Island makes sense if you don’t like big city life
- Living in Rhode Island can give you a feeling of peace
- Rhode Island is a rather safe state
- Rhode Island may be a great place for families
- High levels of cultural diversity in the big cities of Rhode Island
- You can make many nice day trips in Rhode Island
- Decent internet connection for most people in Rhode Island
- The major cities of Rhode Island are well-connected to the world
- Decent road conditions in Rhode Island
- Distances are rather short in most parts of Rhode Island
- You will find most things you need pretty close to your home
- You can try many different foods in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island may become even more popular in the future
- Rhode Island is not a really crowded state
- Rhode Island may be a great place to retire
- Rhode Island may be an interesting place for students
Rhode Island is located at the coast
One advantage of living in Rhode Island is that you will have access to the beach and you can therefore go surfing, swimming or just relax at the coast on a regular basis and this may greatly boost your overall quality of life and many people living in Colorado or other non-coastal regions may really envy you for those opportunities in the long run.
Many nice places to hang out in nature in Rhode Island
Not only will you find nice beaches in Rhode Island but you will also find countless nature locations where you can hang out with your loved ones so you can have a great time with your family while this still gives you some opportunity to relax and reload your batteries.
You can go fishing, camping and do many other nice things
You can also be pretty productive during your leisure in Rhode Island since you can go fishing, hunting, foraging for food and so on and through all those experiences, you will not only learn quite a lot about nature but may also become independent of conventional stores and society in general to a certain extent.
People in Rhode Island can get lots of natural exercise
Since you can do so many nice things outdoors, you can also burn lots of calories in a rather natural manner and this can be great to stay in shape while people who just stay indoors all day long may just get lazy and may not be able to stay fit in the long run.
Many people in Rhode Island may not have to go to the gym
Since you can exercise quite a lot in nature, there may also no longer be the need to go to the gym and you may have more time to spend on more pleasant and productive things instead.
Decent air quality in many parts of Rhode Island
Another upside to living in Rhode Island is that you will have pretty decent air quality in many parts of the state and this can be great since it not only improves your overall quality of life but you may also be able to reduce your risk of suffering from serious pulmonary issues in the long run.
Rhode Island has become increasingly popular over the past decades
While Rhode Island has been a rather secret spot to live a great life just a few decades ago, it has become increasingly popular by people from all over the US and may continue to increase in popularity since many people currently living in New York or other states nearby consider moving to this region.
Many people will envy and admire you for moving to Rhode Island
Since Rhode Island is a pretty popular state that has a lot to offer to its inhabitants, many of your friends living in different parts of the US may also really envy and admire you for your plans of moving to Rhode Island and you may therefore be able to get a really high social standing among your peers.
Rhode Island is a pretty tolerant place
Another benefit of living in Rhode Island is that it is also a pretty tolerant state and you will be welcome no matter where you come from or what your background is so you can enjoy your life with many great people on your side.
You will be able to meet many helpful people in Rhode Island
You should also know that many people in Rhode Island are pretty helpful and outgoing and in case you need support during your first days or weeks in your new home state, chances are you will find many people helping you out on various occasions of life so you can become familiar with many important things rather quickly and may be able to become a valued member of society soon.
Rhode Island is a great place to socialize
Since you will be able to meet many friendly and open people, you will also have a pretty easy time making many new social connections in Rhode Island so you don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated and can have a great time with many people around you instead.
Many people in Rhode Island are honest and genuine
You should also keep in mind that many people In Rhode Island are pretty genuine and honest and while this may be annoying at first since it may reveal unpleasant truth about you, you may still be able to benefit from it in the long run since you will be able to grow in character and overcome your insecurities so you can become a stronger person in general.
You may be able to make many friends for a lifetime
Since you can meet many great guys and gals whom you can really rely on, you may also learn to trust your friends in Rhode Island and many of them will also be there for you during the most difficult periods of your life so you can overcome your struggles and by going through all those things, some of those people will also become friends for a lifetime and by hanging out with them, you may rather feel like hanging out with family members since you will become pretty close.
Rhode Island is a rather quiet place
Since Rhode Island is a pretty quiet state, you will also find many opportunities to relax and will also find many quiet spaces where you will not get distracted by other people or loud noises but can really focus on what matters to you right now.
Moving to Rhode Island may help you slow down your life
Since Rhode Island is a rather quiet state, moving to Rhode Island may also be a great way to slow down your life and if you currently feel stressed in the region you live in and urgently want to make a change, Rhode Island may be a great new home since you may find many opportunities to calm down after stressful days and your life may also be more relaxed in general compared to people living in Los Angeles or other busier places where people are often in a rush and can’t balance professional and personal life in a proper manner.
Many recreational spaces in Rhode Island
You will also find many parks and other green spaces in many parts of Rhode Island and this can also help you relax and reload your batteries since you can hang out in rather peaceful environments during lunch breaks so you may be able to stay emotionally balanced in the long run.
Decent quality of education in most parts of Rhode Island
Another advantage of moving to Rhode Island is that you will also find many good schools and universities in the big cities of the state and can therefore make sure that your kids get solid education and will have decent chances in the job market later on.
Good public transport in the major cities of Rhode Island
You should also know that public transport is pretty decent in the biggest cities of Rhode Island and you may therefore be able to get around by bus or train in a pretty efficient manner and may not urgently need a car in those urban regions which can be great for our environment and also your finances in the long run.
Solid medical infrastructure in Rhode Island
You will also find many great doctors and hospitals in the urban parts of Rhode Island and as long as you have enough money, you can get pretty good medical treatment and may be able to recover from your health condition as quickly as possible.
Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Rhode Island
You should also know that Rhode Island is not the most congested region and traffic is not a big problem so you will be able to get around by car in a pretty efficient manner while people moving to Chicago or other regions where traffic is a bigger problem may lose much more time in traffic jams on a regular basis.
Finding a parking lot is rather easy
Since there are not as many cars on the streets as in many other regions, it is also rather easy to find a parking lot in most parts of Rhode Island and you may not have to spend lots of time and money in this regard.
Many free things to do in Rhode Island
Another upside to moving to Rhode Island is that there are also many free things to do in this region and even if you don’t have lots of money, you can still hang out in nature and just enjoy the atmosphere for free.
Decent nightlife in the major cities of Rhode Island
You will also find many decent bars in the big cities of Rhode Island and may be able to party quite a lot so you can really enjoy your youth and may also be able to socialize with many great people.
High income level in Rhode Island
Since income levels in Rhode Island are pretty high, many people in this region can also make pretty good money and may be able to get wealthy or even rich rather quickly, at least if they are willing to put in the work and strive towards their goals.
Many big corporations to work for
In the biggest cities of Rhode Island, you will also find some really big corporations to work for that pay really good money and you may also be able to start a fancy career in this region and may be able to climb the corporate ladder rather quickly.
Highly-qualified people have a rather easy time finding decent jobs
As long as you have decent education, chances are you will also find a decent job rather quickly and even in case you get laid off for some reason, you may be able to find a new one rather quickly and may not have to worry about long-term unemployment.
Rhode Island attracts many talented and ambitious people
Since you can make pretty good money in this region and career prospects are decent, Rhode Island also attracts many talented people from all over the US and you can therefore hang out with many smart people from which you can learn quite a lot so you may be able to increase your chances of succeeding the corporate world in the long run.
You may be able to build a strong business network rather quickly
Since you can meet many talented people, you may also be able to build a strong business network fairly quickly and this may also help you climb the corporate ladder and getting promoted sooner or later.
Decent museums in Rhode Island
There are also many solid museums in Rhode Island where you can see many unique pieces of art and can also get some inspiration in case you are an artist yourself and want to develop your skills even further.
You can find decent art scenes in the big cities of Rhode Island
In general, as long as you move to the biggest cities of Rhode Island, you will usually also find some other artists whom you can hang out with and can not only have a great time but may also be able to share lots of useful advice from which everyone is able to benefit.
People in Rhode Island can experience real seasons
Another benefit of moving to Rhode Island is that you can also experience real seasons since you will have rather warm summers and pretty cold winters and your life in Rhode Island may therefore just be much more interesting compared to people moving to Florida or other regions where it is pretty warm all year long.
Moving to Rhode Island makes sense if you don’t like big city life
Also in case you just don’t like big city life and want to spend your life in a rather quiet atmosphere, you may be well-off moving to Rhode Island since you will not be confronted with many unpleasant things you may be used to from bigger cities and may be better able to enjoy your life.
Living in Rhode Island can give you a feeling of peace
Since Rhode Island is a rather quiet state, moving to Rhode Island may also give you a feeling of peace and you may also be able to go back to the roots and live a pretty original lifestyle in this state which may help you stay emotionally balanced in the long run.
Rhode Island is a rather safe state
You should also know that crime rates in Rhode Island are pretty low and many people in Rhode Island therefore feel pretty safe which can really boost your overall quality of life.
Rhode Island may be a great place for families
Since Rhode Island is a pretty safe state and you can spend lots of time in nature, it can also be a great place for your kids to grow up since you can show them many nice things in nature and may also not have to worry about their well-being as much as in unsafer regions.
High levels of cultural diversity in the big cities of Rhode Island
Thanks to high levels of cultural diversity, you will also be able to experience many different lifestyles in the big cities of the state which helps you become more tolerant and you may also be able to adopt many helpful things into your own life.
You can make many nice day trips in Rhode Island
Since there are many nice cities and nature reserves where you can have a great time with your family and friends, you will also have countless opportunities to make many nice day trips in this region and will likely never get bored with leisure activities in Rhode Island.
Decent internet connection for most people in Rhode Island
Most people in Rhode Island also have pretty solid internet connection and this can not only be great for staying in touch with your loved ones but you will also be able to get the latest news in almost real-time and may also be able to work from home so you may be able to manage your private and professional life in a more efficient manner.
The major cities of Rhode Island are well-connected to the world
Since there are some big airports, it is also pretty easy to get to the major cities of Rhode Island and your loved ones living in other states may therefore have a rather easy time visiting you in this region.
Decent road conditions in Rhode Island
Thanks to pretty decent road conditions in most parts of Rhode Island, you will also be able to get around by car in a pretty efficient manner and comfortable manner and your day trips will be even more fun due to that.
Distances are rather short in most parts of Rhode Island
As long as you move to the urban parts of Rhode Island, distances are also rather short and you will not have to drive long hours to bring your kids to school as people in remote regions of the US often have to do.
You will find most things you need pretty close to your home
In general, you will also find most things of daily life pretty close to your home and may be able to live a pretty efficient lifestyle in most parts of Rhode Island.
You can try many different foods in Rhode Island
Thanks to many different cultural influences, you will also be able to try many interesting and delicious foods from various parts of the world and you will be surprised by how well many of those rather exotic foods actually taste.
Rhode Island may become even more popular in the future
Since many people from other states consider moving to Rhode Island, it may become an even more popular place in the future and you may be able to meet even more interesting people in this region in the long run.
Rhode Island is not a really crowded state
You should also know that Rhode Island is not a really crowded state and you will therefore have more than enough space for yourself in public where you can hang out on your own during times you don’t want to get distracted by others but need a quiet space to think about major problems that need to be solved.
Rhode Island may be a great place to retire
Since there are many nice things to do in nature and Rhode Island is also a rather quiet place, it may also be a great location to retire since you will be able to do many nice things outdoors and may be able to stay fitter than retirees in other states where the incentive of spending time outdoors may be much lower.
Rhode Island may be an interesting place for students
The big cities of Rhode Island may also be interesting locations to study since even though living and housing costs may be above national average, they are still far lower than in many other regions and compared to students in NYC, students in Rhode Island may just not have to spend as much money on their studies while they will still find some pretty decent colleges.

Disadvantages of Living in Rhode Island
- Cold winters are annoying for many people living in Rhode Island
- Not many really big cities in Rhode Island
- Limited fancy shopping opportunities in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island is a rather small state
- Rather high unemployment rate in Rhode Island
- Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs
- Pretty high living costs in Rhode Island
- Rents in Rhode Island are about to increase
- Property prices in Rhode Island have skyrocketed over the past decade
- Many people in Rhode Island are no longer able to buy a decent home
- Living the American dream becomes increasingly difficult in Rhode Island
- Many people moving to Rhode Island have to deal with high financial pressure
- Rhode Island may not be really popular among international tourists
- The big cities of Rhode Island may become increasingly crowded
- Beaches in Rhode Island become increasingly polluted
- Increasing level of inequality in Rhode Island
- Nightlife is not great outside of the urban parts of Rhode Island
- Limited entertainment options in the rural parts of Rhode Island
- Overall public infrastructure gets worse in the rural regions of Rhode Island
- Public transport may not be great in the rural parts of Rhode Island
- Not many great sports teams in Rhode Island
- Some people in Rhode Island are still pretty conservative and traditional
- You may need a pretty high budget to afford a decent lifestyle in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island may be overrated
Cold winters are annoying for many people living in Rhode Island
One problem with moving to Rhode Island is that winters can be pretty cold and in case you are the type of person who can’t stand cold weather at all, you may be better off moving to Austin or other warmer regions where winters are often rather mild.
Not many really big cities in Rhode Island
You should also know that you will not find many big cities in Rhode Island and if you love big city life and want to be surrounded by huge skyscrapers on a daily basis, you may not get happy in Rhode Island and may be better off moving to Denver or other bigger metropolitan regions.
Limited fancy shopping opportunities in Rhode Island
While you may find some fancy boutiques in the big cities of Rhode Island, following fashion trends may be rather hard in the rural region of the state and in case you are a fashion victim, you may be better off moving to bigger metropolitan regions where fashion often plays a more important role.
Rhode Island is a rather small state
You should also not forget that Rhode Island is a rather small state and even though there are many nice locations where you can spend your leisure, you should still know that you may not have as many opportunities in this regard compared to people living in Arizona or other bigger states where you may be able to find more exciting or hidden places.
Rather high unemployment rate in Rhode Island
Another downside to moving to Rhode Island is that unemployment rates are pretty high in many regions and you may therefore have a hard time competing in the job market unless you have really good education.
Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs
You should also know that many low-qualified people often have a hard time finding good jobs and often have to work multiple jobs under pretty poor conditions and may therefore just not get happy with their life in Rhode Island in the long run.
Pretty high living costs in Rhode Island
You should also know that compared to US average, living costs in Rhode Island are higher and you may therefore not be able to afford as many nice things for the same budget as people moving to Mississippi or other cheaper regions.
Rents in Rhode Island are about to increase
Not only living costs are pretty high but also rents have increased significantly over the past years and decades which means you would have to spend significant amounts of money on housing and may have less money left to spend on other nice and important stuff.
Property prices in Rhode Island have skyrocketed over the past decade
You should also know that property prices in Rhode Island have skyrocketed and many people are no longer able to get a mortgage for buying a home.
Many people in Rhode Island are no longer able to buy a decent home
Even in case people get a mortgage for buying a home, many people are still barely able to afford their homes and may have to financially overextend themselves quite a lot and in case something unexpected happens to them, they are often no longer able to pay off their mortgage in a reliable manner and may lose their homes to foreclosure sooner or later.
Living the American dream becomes increasingly difficult in Rhode Island
Another disadvantage of moving to Rhode Island is that living the American dream has also become really difficult due to high living and housing costs and many people are just no longer able to afford a decent lifestyle and become increasingly desperate due to financial problems.
Many people moving to Rhode Island have to deal with high financial pressure
In general, due to high living and housing costs, many people in Rhode Island suffer from serious financial pressure and this makes it pretty hard for them to enjoy their lives since financial problems often also turn into mental issues in the long run.
Rhode Island may not be really popular among international tourists
While Rhode Island is a pretty popular region by many people from all over the US, it is still not on the bucket list of many international tourists and you may therefore have a harder time meeting people from all over the world compared to people moving to San Francisco or other regions where international tourism plays a much bigger role.
The big cities of Rhode Island may become increasingly crowded
While Rhode Island is not the most crowded place yet, you should still know that the big cities become increasingly popular and in case too many people from other states want to move to those regions, public infrastructure may get worse for everyone in the future.
Beaches in Rhode Island become increasingly polluted
Another problem with living in Rhode Island is that beaches become increasingly polluted since many people just dispose of their trash in nature and polluted beaches are just not a nice picture and may also lower your overall quality of life in the long run.
Increasing level of inequality in Rhode Island
Since property prices are about to increase even further, the region also has to deal with an increasing level of inequality since while landlords get richer pretty quickly, tenants become increasingly desperate since they no longer know how to pay their bills and even end up homeless sooner or later.
Nightlife is not great outside of the urban parts of Rhode Island
While you may find some decent bars and clubs in the biggest cities, you should still know that nightlife in Rhode Island is not really great in many rural regions and you may just not get happy in those places in case you are a party person.
Limited entertainment options in the rural parts of Rhode Island
Another downside to living in Rhode Island is that overall entertainment options are also pretty limited outside of the big cities and if you are the type of person who needs action 24/7, you may be better off moving to a more vibrant place instead.
Overall public infrastructure gets worse in the rural regions of Rhode Island
While distances are pretty short and overall public infrastructure is solid in the biggest cities, those things still get worse outside of the big cities rather quickly and you may have to drive longer distances to find what you need in the rural parts of the state.
Public transport may not be great in the rural parts of Rhode Island
You should also know that public transport is often not great outside of the big cities and you may therefore urgently need a car to get around and in case you can’t drive due to various possible reasons, you may just get stuck at home and may not be able to really enjoy your life.
Not many great sports teams in Rhode Island
Another disadvantage of living in Rhode Island is that you will also not find many really great sports teams in this region and in case you want to watch many games at the highest level live in person, you may be better off moving to Washington D.C. or other more vibrant regions where sports play a bigger role.
Some people in Rhode Island are still pretty conservative and traditional
While you will find high levels of cultural diversity in the big cities of Rhode Island, you may still not be able to meet as many interesting people living alternative lifestyles in rather rural parts of the state where people are often still pretty traditional and conservative.
You may need a pretty high budget to afford a decent lifestyle in Rhode Island
Since most things are pretty expensive, people living in Rhode Island often also need a pretty high budget to afford a decent lifestyle and often have to work many extra hours to make enough money from their jobs.
Rhode Island may be overrated
While Rhode Island has many nice things to offer, it is still pretty expensive and you may find many other locations where you will have similar quality of life at a much lower price and Rhode Island may therefore be considered overrated by many people out there.

Top 10 Moving To Rhode Island Pros & Cons – Summary List
Living in Rhode Island Pros | Living in Rhode Island Cons |
---|---|
Rhode Island is located at the coast | Living costs in Rhode Island are pretty high |
You can enjoy nice nature in Rhode Island | High rents and property prices in Rhode Island |
Decent quality of education in Rhode Island | Housing shortage is a big problem in some major cities |
High income level in Rhode Island | High financial pressure for people moving to Rhode Island |
You can build a strong business network | You have to make pretty good money to afford a decent lifestyle |
Many recreational spaces in Rhode Island | Winters in Rhode Island may be too cold for you |
High levels of cultural diversity in Rhode Island | The big cities of Rhode Island may become increasingly crowded |
Rhode Island is a pretty popular state | Hard to meet many international tourists in Rhode Island |
Decent air quality in many parts of Rhode Island | High unemployment rate in Rhode Island |
Rhode Island is a pretty popular state | Rhode Island may be overrated |
Is Rhode Island A Good Place To Live?
While Rhode Island can be a great place to live since you will find decent education, well-paying jobs and can spend lots of time in beautiful nature, you should also know that Rhode Island is a pretty expensive place where living and housing costs are high and many people in this region struggle with financial problems in the long run.
In the end, it is on you to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Rhode Island by yourself so you can make the best possible decision according to your individual preferences.
Most Popular Cities To Live In Rhode Island – Comparison
Living Costs | Property Prices | Income Level | Infrastructure | |
Providence | high | moderate | high | good |
Cranston | moderate | moderate | high | decent |
Warwick | moderate | moderate | moderate | decent |
Pawtucket | moderate | low | moderate | poor |
Woonsocket | low | low | moderate | poor |
Alternative States To Live
If you no longer want to move to Rhode Island, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:
Advantages and disadvantages of living in Ohio
Advantages and disadvantages of living in Delaware
Advantages and disadvantages of living in Pennsylvania
Sources
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/RI/PST045221

About the author
This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.
My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.
Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.
In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.