Coventry

Coventry, the largest town in Rhode Island with roughly 62 square miles of land, is a tale of two cities. Attractive to potential homebuyers because of its rustic streetscapes, converted 19th-century mill buildings and multiple waterways, the town is a mixture of suburban neighborhoods and wide-open country pastures. “It’s beautiful,” says Jess Powers, team leader and associate broker at Hope State Living with eXp Realty and a resident of nearby Scituate. “I love the access to the bike trail that runs through Scituate, West Warwick and Coventry and goes all the way to Cranston.”

The history of Coventry is inextricable from American history. Its residents were supporters of the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War. General Nathaneal Greene, second in command to George Washington, is from Coventry. As part of the Pawtuxet River Valley, the town was an important textile manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution. Coventry’s size means neighbors have several different options when it comes to home styles. Some houses are on multiple rolling, country acres behind stone walls and beneath tall trees and others are in tightly packed suburban neighborhoods. “It feels very different from when I lived in Providence,” says Powers. “I don’t think people realize how rural parts of Rhode Island really are.” Residential construction happened during the 20th century and continues today. Early 20th-century colonials can cost $450,000, ranch-style houses can go for $800,000 and lakefront homes can go for $700,000.

Coventry is known for its natural beauty. Neighbors can get outside at Briar Point Beach, a wooded area along Tiogue Lake with picnic benches, walking pathways and a swimming area. Fishing, sailing and jet skiing are also popular activities. On the weekends, softball and soccer games happen at Foster Memorial Park. Veteran golfers and novices alike will appreciate Coventry Pines Golf Course, a public, 9-hole course created in 1959 from a pine forest. Hikers will love the trails and the waterfall at Trestle Trail Greenway and the bikers can hop on the Washington Secondary Trail, which runs along the Pawtuxet River. Kids can do arts and crafts or go to a book club at the Coventry Public Library, which has volunteer opportunities for teenagers.

The town center of Coventry is a suburban village with shopping plazas and accounting offices operating out of Cape Cod-style houses. People get their morning coffee at Dunkin and order ice cream at Udder Delights Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts. Borrelli’s Pastry Shop bakes fresh cheesecake and cookies daily, and Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks serves cocktails like rum punch and entrees like burgers. For groceries, neighbors like Stop & Shop and Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, a local chain known for its prepared foods. People can stock up on essentials at Walmart, located 3 miles south of the center of town. “At Dave’s supermarket in Coventry they play 1990s country music all the time, which I love,” says Powers. “That’s not going to happen in Providence.”

Kids in Coventry can attend Coventry Public Schools, which teaches about 4,400 students and has a B rating from Niche. Some children in Coventry will attend Hopkins Hill Elementary School (rated B), Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School (rated B) and Coventry High School (rated B-minus). With nearly 1,400 students, Coventry High is the largest public high school in Rhode Island.

Coventry sits about 21 miles south of Providence on the Connecticut border. Interstate 95 is 3 miles away, and the town is 70 miles from Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston. With its country pastures, abundance of outdoor amenities and easy access to retail stores, Coventry offers a lot.