Cranston

From its hilly residential streets to plans for development in neighborhood schools, apartments and ponds, Laurel Hill retains a close-knit, midcentury suburban atmosphere amid updates to community amenities. “It’s a quiet suburb that was best known for the Cranston Print Works, which they’re trying to develop into apartments now,” says Robert Nero, chairman of the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council who grew up on Laurel Hill Avenue. “We’re working to create more passive recreation areas in these urban areas on a local level, like at Randall Pond.” Within 4 miles of downtown Providence, Laurel Hill offers an easy downtown commute on sloping, settled streets outside of city limits. Long blocks lined by spotty sidewalks, tidy pocket-sized lawns and the occasional shady tree run up and down hills on the eastern edge of Laurel Hill. Classic single-family home styles like Cape Cods and ranch-style homes sprouted up from the 1920s through 1950s, selling for $300,000 to $450,000. Rare new construction and multifamily homes, typically with two or three units, sell for $380,000 to $580,000. “People still live there because it’s home to them, but some of the ones who’ve moved away have become landlords for the old properties,” Nero says. Laurel Hill residents are currently evenly split between renters and homeowners. Students may attend Arlington Elementary School which earns a C from Niche, followed by Bain Middle School which earns a C-plus and Cranston High School East which earns a B. Many students typically attend Gladstone Elementary School, but the district has demolished the old building to make room for a larger, open floor plan design set to open for the 2025-26 school year. In the interim, current Gladstone students attend school at either Barrows or Waterman schools, each several miles east of Laurel Hill. Along Dyer Avenue, residents drive past auto repair shops, a Family Dollar and a couple of strip malls housing small local restaurants and businesses like Emmanuel’s Bakery and Taqueria, known for serving authentic Latin American cuisines and stocking specialty goods. In a VFW building on Randall Street, Mike’s Kitchen serves Italian staples and family recipes to a devoted clientele. “Everyone goes to the Aldi off Cranston Street. There are big developments off Garfield Avenue, so people have Stop & Shop and Lowe’s,” Nero says. “For some of the more upscale shops you go to Garden City.” The two nearest grocery hubs are within a mile of Laurel Hill, and dozens of retailers and restaurants are about 3 miles away at Garden City Center. A couple of Catholic churches provide religious services within the neighborhood. Anglers looking to catch largemouth bass or pickerels head to a small, little-known access point along Libera Street to get out on Randall Pond. “People can take a canoe down the bridge to the water, but we’re working on an observation area and expanded boat launch,” Nero says. “Randall Pond runs into Dyer Pond, but that’s not accessible because it’s in St. Ann’s Cemetery. People can walk around there when they open the gates, though.” For more green space, locals can hike the forested trails and enjoy the playground and athletic fields at the Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy, which is about a mile north of the neighborhood. For a weekend each September, St. George Maronite Catholic Church hosts the Annual Lebanese Festival on their grounds, inviting people from all around to enjoy live Lebanese music, dancing, family activities and authentic cuisine prepared by community members. Commuters can head east and merge onto Route 10 for a 4-mile drive into downtown Providence or quick connection to major regional highways like Interstate-95. RIPTA buses run along Dyer and Laurel Hill avenues, providing a public transit option.

Bordered by a Johnston neighborhood with the same name, Thornton is a north Cranston suburb known for its peaceful residential streets and access to both mom and pop restaurants and big box conveniences. “Thornton has stayed very consistent over the years,” says Karl Martone, team leader of the Martone Group at RE/MAX who grew up in the Johnston and Cranston areas. “Multiple generations of families have lived there, but there’s more changeover now. The restaurant vibe is really good in the Atwood Avenue and Plainfield Pike areas.” Bordered by relaxed commercial districts and access to Interstate-295, Thornton maintains both small-town and modern suburban amenities within 6 miles of downtown Providence. Split between more winding, connected streets to the west and denser blocks of homes to the east, Thornton is characterized by a mix of early 20th century homes and classic midcentury styles. Older Cape Cods, bungalows, and two-story homes from the same era sell for $260,000 to $400,000. Ranch-style homes, bi-levels and split levels built on tidy, grassy yards in the 1950s through 1970s make up much of the neighborhood, selling for $315,000 to $550,000. Some streets on the western side of Thornton are lined by narrow sidewalks which take joggers and dog walkers on routes lined by tidy front yard landscaping and occasional shady trees. Several RIPTA bus stops line Plainfield Pike, but residents typically rely on personal vehicles to get around the greater Providence area. Downtown Providence is 6 miles northeast of Thornton, and many commuters start their days driving a couple of miles east to merge onto Route 10. Locals can also hop onto I-295 on the eastern edge of Thornton, providing an alternative to Interstate-95 to travel around Providence and into Massachusetts. While Providence is a hub for major shopping and dining, locals can find plenty of options along Plainfield Pike and Atwood Avenue. “There’s diverse cuisines and a lot of Italian American places within a mile radius,” Martone says. Locals can sit down for Italian mainstays and wine at Cucina Rustica or drive past small storefronts, homes and Walgreens to order from the wide menu at The Punjab Indian Cuisine in a nearby strip mall. Just across the border in Johnston, The Original Italian Bakery’s parking lot is often packed with residents picking up Italian desserts, breads, pizza chips and pizza. Locals can find groceries and essentials at the Walmart at the Plainfield Pike shopping plaza or head to the Stop & Shop on Atwood Avenue. The Garden City Center is less than 4 miles away for more extensive retail shopping. Options for outdoor recreation in Thornton are limited, but locals can keep active at the Cranston Sports Complex, an indoor facility containing training spaces for classes ranging from boxing and martial arts to pickleball and gymnastics. From a small boat launch hidden down Libera Street, fishing enthusiasts can take a canoe out onto Randall Pond for a relaxing day on the water. For a little more green space and hiking trails through forests or around a placid pond, locals head outside their neighborhood to Neutaconkanut Park or Meshanticut State Park, each within 3 miles of Thornton to the north and south. Kids start off at Stone Hill Elementary School which earns a B from Niche, followed by Western Hills Middle School which earns a B and Cranston High School West which earns a B-plus. Cranston High West students can participate in dozens of sports teams and clubs including The West Wind, the school’s student run newspaper. Hundreds of locals attend the annual Saint Rocco’s Feast and Festival at the Saint Rocco Roman Catholic Church each August, advertised with an iconic banner that overhangs Atwood Avenue near the church. While masses and religious processions are a large part of the multi-day celebration, all are welcome to enjoy the live music performances, homemade food, carnival games and rides that return each year. “You can get sausage and peppers, and the local bakeries make doughboys and pastries. It’s a really cool festival,” Martone says.

Quiet urban streets with coastal New England character stretch from Roger Williams Park to the banks of the Providence River in Edgewood. “There’s a lot of charm to living here, it’s walkable and there’s a small business district, and it’s quieter than places like College Hill,” says Barbara Rubine, president of the Edgewood Waterfront Preservation Association. “We have a public waterfront green space in the middle of this densely populated area.” Combining historic aesthetics with proximity to commuter highways, Edgewood connects residents to the urban amenities of Providence on quieter streets soundtracked by the gentle rush of the upper Narragansett Bay. Although Edgewood is technically further north on the Providence River, what locals like most about their neighborhood is proximity to Narragansett Bay and the preserved salt marshes along Stillhouse Cove. “We work with the Cranston STEM program, so kids get to learn about organisms in the bay and get all wet and muddy,” Rubine says. “Every time I hear a bird fly by, I look to see if it’s the osprey pair that will use our nest this year.” Water quality has improved over the past few decades, increasing the number of kayaks and paddle boards joining motorboats and sailboats launching from the Edgewood and Rhode Island yacht clubs or Pawtuxet Marina, though swimming and shellfishing are still prohibited. Inland, residents and their canine companions walk forested trails along the Pawtuxet River at Pawtuxet Oxboes Park. Just west of Edgewood, locals can launch swan boats into connected waterways, explore the zoo or natural history museum and planetarium, stroll through botanical gardens, and relax in the shade of the Temple to Music on the sprawling grounds of Roger Williams Park. Long blocks between connective roads house single-family homes built in countless styes from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, connected by narrow sidewalks and shaded by mature trees. Styles range from simpler bungalows, Cape Cods and American Foursquares to homes with charming historic details like Dutch Colonial roofs, wood shingle siding or rambling Queen Anne layouts. Most homes sell from $250,000 to 550,000, while grander offerings with upward of five bedrooms, backyard waterfront access or larger yards sell for $600,000 to $2.8 million. Condos in converted historic homes sell for $225,000 to $360,000. While many properties have narrow, private driveways, street parking is common. On Saturday mornings from May through October, locals peruse tents set up in the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet parking lot, purchasing fresh produce, artisan goods and fish from local farmers and producers. Each summer, Gaspee Days celebrations on weekends throughout May and June draw tens of thousands to events from an arts festival and parade to a reenactment ship burning in Pawtuxet Cove. On a stretch of Broad Street with a distinctive red-white-and-blue center line, a collection of small storefronts and restaurants forms the Pawtuxet Village business district. Between the historic Pawtuxet Baptist Church and bridge over the Pawtuxet River, locals can walk along wide, red brick sidewalks to Basta Italian Restaurant for classy date night ambiance or catch a live music performance next door at The Blue Room bar. Off Warwick Avenue, locals can pick up essentials at Walgreens, Stop & Shop and Shaw’s. Kids start off at Edward S. Rhodes School which earns a B from Niche, followed by Park View Middle School which earns a B-minus and Cranston High School East which earns a B. Cranston East has a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 and offers several CTE programs for students interested in careers from audio engineering to medicine. Residents can access RIPTA buses at stops along Broad Street and from Warwick Avenue to Narragansett Boulevard. Commuters are about 4 miles from downtown Providence, and Interstate-95 runs less than 2 miles west of the neighborhood. “You don’t have to get on 95 to get to the business district in the capital, and I’ve seen more people bicycling, but you can hop on the highway when you need it,” Rubine says. While homes in Edgewood don’t typically flood, those closest to the water are more prone to the effects of coastal erosion and elevated water levels following storm surges or events like Hurricane Sandy. “I’m aware of the problem because I work with erosion of public land on the shore, but other people are becoming more aware of the impact increased storms will have on daily life,” Rubine says.

With expansive green spaces in almost every corner, Park View lives up to its name. This peaceful Cranston neighborhood is convenient for commuters. The winding Pawtuxet River brings a touch of wilderness to its otherwise suburban streetscapes. The west side bordering Interstate 95 is an industrial area getting its second life. “Some of the old mills have been repurposed and we’re seeing a revival,” says Rachel McNally, Realtor with Century 21 Shoreline Properties and a resident of Cranston. “It’s also home to fraternal organizations, like the Cranston Portuguese Club.” Most single-family homes in Park View are one-story tall. Two-story colonials divide into multifamily housing. Home styles range from low-lying ranch-style houses and modest bungalows with decorative window awnings to red brick Cape Cods and cozy A-frame cottages. Properties include private driveways, neatly landscaped front yards and grassy back yards concealed by privacy fencing. Housing inventory remains low in the neighborhood. Most homes sell for between $300,000 and $500,000. The neighborhood is home to several eateries serving Italian cuisine. Calvitto’s Pizza and Bakery makes a mean calzone, and nearby Elizabeth’s Portofino offers Tuscan fare in an elegant setting. For a night on the town, locals head to Buttonwoods Brewery, an eclectic industrial spot offering a wide selection of local beers and retro arcade games. Then, after they’ve beaten the high score, people head over to Pub on Park, the local watering hole and live music venue. Residents of Park View are well-equipped with familiar retailers like Stop & Shop, Price Rite and Shaw’s. Walmart sits just 2 miles south of the neighborhood. Kids in Park View can attend school through the Cranston Public School District. The school system is investing in its facilities, bringing them up to 21st-century standards. “It’s an amazing opportunity that people are moving to Cranston for, 100 percent,” McNally says. Near the neighborhood is William Dutemple Elementary School, which has a B-minus rating from Niche. Park View Middle School, which also scores a B-minus, sits within the neighborhood. The closest high school is Cranston High School East, which earns a B. After the last bell at Park View, middle school students can skip across the street to the local athletic complex to kick around the soccer ball or practice their serves on the outdoor tennis court. “The middle school has a nice track and ballfield that’s open to the public,” McNally says. Just south of the neighborhood, cradled by the river bend of the Pawtuxet, sits Belmont Park, which features a forested trail walk, sports fields and shady maple trees. Neighbors stroll on the boardwalk trails at Pawtuxet Oboes Park, home to paddling wood ducks and wooden bridges over burbling creeks. Local anglers fish for largemouth bass and chain pickerel at Fenner Pond. On the north side of Park View is the iconic Roger Williams Park, a sprawling 430-acre green space with an elaborate system of gleaming lakes. Neighbors can cruise the waters in a rented swan boat, bask in the sunlight on grassy hills, visit the botanical center’s collection of carnivorous plants or get lost in the blooming rose maze come summertime. “There’s a zoo there too, which is definitely a draw,” McNally continues. “They do food truck nights every Friday in the summer at the carousel.” Driving is the main form of transportation here, although bus routes are available via the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. For more urban amenities and entertainment, Providence, the state’s bustling capital city, is 5 miles away, or about a 10-minute drive.

A neighborhood in Cranston’s northeast side, Arlington is conveniently bounded by Interstate 95 and Route 10, via which residents can reach Downtown Providence’s commercial and cultural district in under 5 miles. <br><br>According to Basty Ortiz, a local broker with Bani Properties, the neighborhood is “very multicultural and eclectic -- you’ll see a mix of single-family, multifamily and commercial buildings.” The streetscape is also lined with white clapboard homes in varying styles – Cape Cods with centered brick chimneys and dormer windows, long and narrow shotgun bungalows with covered porches, and classic Dutch colonials with barn-like gambrel roofs. You’ll also find a large collection of ranchers painted in neutral shades and the occasional home clad in rustic wood shingles. Lot sizes are modest, with shallow, tidy front yards and backyards concealed by privacy fencing. According to Ortiz, “Single-family houses stay on the market for a little bit longer, but they do tend to sell within the first two months.” Homes may vary in shape, size and style, but most are priced between $300,000 and $400,000, in keeping with sales trends in surrounding neighborhoods. <br><br>Local kids can attend several schools in the area, including Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, which offers career pathways in computer science, education and healthcare. Two neighborhood elementary schools, Gladstone Street and Arlington School, will soon be combined to form an international school serving the city of Cranston. The new facility will replace Gladstone Street’s existing structure, emphasizing greenspace and “curiosity centers” -- creative classrooms outfitted as music, art and maker spaces. Currently in its planning phase, the new school is projected to open for students in the fall of 2025. <br><br>After school, Reservoir Avenue Elementary students can walk to nearby Ardoene Park to shoot hoops or swing on the playground’s climbing structures. Baseball players can head to Mashapaug Park to play catch or stroll along the shore of Mashapaug Pond. While still a scenic destination, the pond is no longer safe for swimming due to pollution. However, local environmental groups and passionate residents are striving to restore the pond so that future generations can fully enjoy this urban oasis again. <br><br>Outdoor enthusiasts in Arlington also love the neighborhood’s proximity to Providence’s Roger Williams Park, a 435-acre green space offering a treasure trove of activities. Here, you can glide in a swan boat on one of the seven lakes, stroll along wooded trails, brush up on your native flora knowledge at the Botanical Center, or visit the state’s only public planetarium. <br><br>The Roger Williams Park Zoo houses over 100 species of exotic animals. It also hosts annual community events, such as the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in October and the Holiday Lights Spectacular, which shines brightly throughout December. <br><br>Running errands is easy in Arlington, home to familiar supermarkets and retailers including ALDI, Stop & Shop and Lowe’s. And you don’t have to travel abroad to taste the world, either -- Arlington restaurants offer a range of global cuisines. Order from the extensive pan-Asian menu at 4 Seasons Restaurant, enjoy a steaming bowl of ramen at Ebisu Providence or sample La Bandera Bistro’s beloved tacos under a festive canopy of twinkling lights. Or grab a lane and a cold one at Lang’s Bowlarama, the local bowling alley and bar. <br><br>Arlington’s prime location allows residents to access the amenities of both Cranston and the state’s bustling capital city, while enjoying the peace and quiet of neighborly streets.

In the early 20th century, Auburn was where Cranston residents came to ride the trolley into Providence. Over time, the neighborhood shed its commuter reputation and became known for its combination of urban and suburban amenities. “Auburn feels like its own small town within Cranston,” says Carole Scaralia, a Realtor with Cranston Living who is also a Cranston resident. “Kids can walk to the elementary school and the high school. Rolf Square is also here, and that’s basically Cranston’s downtown area. It’s where the city hall is, and there are a bunch of local restaurants.” Auburn’s sidewalk-lined streets are brimming with three-to-four-bedroom homes built throughout the 1920s. Dutch Colonial Revivals, Queen Annes and Stick-style homes sit atop lush green lawns covered in ornamental hedges. These houses typically have detached one-car garages or private driveways. There are also a few Cape Cod cottages and raised ranch styles from the 1950s. But no matter when it was built, a house in Auburn typically costs between $400,000 and $600,000, a range similar to a Cranston home’s average $400,000 selling price. “Because the houses are older, they may need some interior renovations, but that hasn’t slowed down the market at all,” says Scaralia. “Houses will usually sell within two weeks.” Children in Auburn can attend William R. Dutemple Elementary, which has an overall B-minus grade from Niche. Then, they may go to Hugh B. Bain Middle School. In addition to its overall C-plus grade from Niche, the school has an impressive technology program, offering classes like engineering, robotics and computer science. Students can continue their education at Cranston High School East. Thanks to its career and technical pathway program, the school earns a B grade in academics from Niche. Focuses include criminal justice, sports media and audio engineering. Auburn is adjacent to the 427-acre Roger Williams Park, a green space filled with some of the most popular destinations in the Providence metropolitan area. Botanists can wander the rose maze or visit New England’s largest greenhouse at the Botanical Center. Christmas-themed toy trains and thousands of poinsettias transform the space into a winter wonderland for the holiday season. Animal lovers can see a Komodo dragon, cheetahs and 100 other species at the Roger William Zoo. Intricately carved pumpkins sit on the zoo’s sidewalk for The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular every October. A 4-mile looped trail surrounds the park's several waterways. “The lakes have some really fun activities. You can rent swan-shaped pedal boats or take a tour in a pirate ship,” says Scaralia. While the water isn’t permitted for swimming, anglers can fish for largemouth bass and carp. Athletes can use the tennis courts, the baseball diamonds or the dirt biking track. Residents will find a plethora of locally owned eateries and entertainment options along Rolfe Square. For instance, Bettola is a newer establishment serving innovative Italian fare, like hand-breaded veal parmesan made with fresh mozzarella and rigatoni. Fans of Mediterranean cuisine will want to stop by El Leham, known for its lamb-stuffed grape leaves and smoky baba ghanoush. The thoroughfare is also home to the Cranston Public Library Auburn Branch, which has various events like toddler story times and adult knitting workshops. Thespians can enjoy a production at The Historic Park Theatre. Built in 1924, it was once a vaudeville house, but today, it hosts everything from cover bands to comedy acts. Groceries are not even 1-mile away at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace. Nationally known retailers like Nike or Pottery Barn are less than 3 miles away at Garden City Center on New London Avenue. It’s easy to walk to local spots in Auburn, and the neighborhood’s location between Rhode Island Route 10 and Interstate 95 adds another layer of convenience. A 5-mile drive north on either highway leads to downtown Providence. Commuters can also hop on a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus, as several stops are sprinkled along Rolfe Square and Pontiac Avenue.