Real Estate Directory - Rhode Island

Population: 1,076,164
Capital city/population: Providence 176,365
Largest cities/population:

  • Providence -176,365
  • Warwick - 87,365
  • Cranston - 81,679
  • Pawtucket - 74,330

Rhode Island is the smallest state, with a total area of 1,545 square miles. It has a moist, continental climate with four distinct seasons. Sea winds temper the weather, especially in the lowland. Average January temperature is 29ºF, and average July temperature is 72ºF. Annual precipitation averages 43”. Rhode Island achieved statehood on May 29, 1790 – its official state name is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The state was founded by Roger Williams, who was banished from Plymouth, Massachusetts due to his “extreme” views concerning freedom of speech and religion.

HOUSING

Providence – The amount of housing available is up over 3,000 units from late spring, 2005. Single-family homes are being listed at an average asking price of $498,993, down slightly from late fall, 2005. Multi-unit properties are selling for an average of $347,383. Average time on the market is almost 90 days. Sale prices of condominiums have fallen slightly, down to $331,360.

Warwick – The single-family home market remains strong, with a great inventory. Prices range from $55,000 - $3,600,000. Single-family homes around the $100,000 mark are almost nonexistent, being snapped up quickly. The condominium market is also strong at all price points, with an average price lower than $287,000. This waterfront community is a popular place to live, with affordable access to nearby larger cities, with airline service, great shopping, and many restaurants.

Cranston – Average price for a single-family home stands at $257,000. This town has a high demand for these homes, and sales are strong. The western edge of the city is undergoing much new construction, including condominium units and the building of two new schools. Cranston will have a great upscale mall being constructed in 2006; also popular are the Roger Williams Park Zoo and the town’s many restaurants. With easy access to nearby Providence, Cranston is a great place to live.

Pawtucket – Average home price is $116,700, with almost half of the cities homes being owner-occupied. Rental units are being rented for $422. This city offers residents and visitors many interesting things to do, including rock climbing, museums, water sports, and restaurants.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include services and manufacturing. Manufactured goods include costume jewelry, toys, machinery, textiles, and electronics. Agricultural outputs include nursery products, turf, potatoes, and apples. Total gross state product for 2000 was $33 billion, with a per capita income for that year of $29,685.

SCHOOLS

Rhode Island has developed guidelines to identify standards upon which the districts develop curricula for their schools. These standards define what students need to know and be able to do. These standards address teaching practices, student evaluation, professional development, and community partnerships. Rhode Island ensures that its teachers understand the standards and be able to use them to assess student performance. Testing is done in designated grades in English, language arts, mathematics, and health. In the public sector, student-teacher ratio for 1994 was 14:7, with an average teachers’ salary for 1995 of $42,160.

Colleges and universities include the University of Rhode Island – Kingston,

The University’s graduate school of Oceanography is at Narragansett Bay. Rhode Island College is at Providence, and Brown University – Providence is the oldest university in the state.

HISTORY

Early settlers were mainly from England, drawn to the colony by promises of religions freedom. Jews and Quakers followed in larger numbers, buying land from Native Americans. Fishing, trade, and farming were early successful practices.

Prior to the American Revolution, Newport was the center of the colony, having a strong trade in rum, slaves, and molasses. During the Revolution, British forces occupied the land. During the Continental Congress, Rhode Island did not send delegates, and resisted ratifying the Constitution until threats from the federal government forced them to cast ratifying votes.

Industrial greatness came to the area after the war. Samuel Slater built the first successful cotton-textile mill at Pawtucket; an abundance of water power led to the rapid development of manufacturing in the state. Well into the 20th century, the economy was dominated by mills and mill owners. This power influenced the state’s politics, with Republicans dominating the scene until the 1930s.

After World War I, there was a textile strike. This event, together with the removal of many mills to the South, led to a decline in the textile industry. The manufacture of these products is still carried on today, with the introduction of high-technology electronics.

RELIGION (2003)

  • Christian – 81%
    • Roman Catholic – 52%
    • Protestant – 28%
      • Episcopal – 8%
      • Baptist – 6%
      • Other Protestant – 14%
    • Other Christian – 1%
  • Jewish – 2%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 16%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2003)

  • White - 81.9%
  • Hispanic - 8.7%
  • Black - 4.5%
  • Asian - 2.3%
  • Native American - 0.5%
  • Mixed race - 2.7%