$980,328Average Value$606Average Price per Sq Ft65Homes For Sale
The heart of Aquidneck Island
Middletown sits at the heart of Aquidneck Island, aptly named for its central location between Newport and Portsmouth. Just a few miles from the island’s most popular beaches, locals have the option to hit up premier shopping hubs or keep it local at nearby farms and vineyards. Thanks to East and West Main Roads, residents are an easy commute away from all that Newport has to offer. “There’s a rural feel to it. We’re very outdoorsy,” says Wendy Heaney, a 14-year local and Realtor with Century 21. “You have to be careful driving around because you’ll always have people running, walking their dogs, riding their horses. There’s even a whole group of us who walk our dogs on the beach.”
Equestrian opportunities at Demery Memorial Park in Middletown are greatly prized.
Modern builds with a classic New England feel
Living near the water is certainly a perk for locals, but seaside homes aren’t really a thing in Middletown. Beside the Narragansett Bay Test Facility, government buildings and train tracks line the shore, pushing subdivisions farther inland. Closer to the island’s center, Colonial Revivals rest on spacious lawns with attached garages and spare room for sheds or parked boats. Smaller Dutch Colonials are interwoven, though some residential streets are exclusively lined with ranch-style homes, bilevels and split levels. Despite the classic, colonial New England feel, most properties were built between the midcentury and early 2000s. Homes range in price from $500,000 to $900,000, with outliers sometimes reaching $1 million.
A classic cape house in the Middletown neighborhood has a spot in the sun.
Rocky bluffs, sandy beaches and the island’s longest trail
Those looking for that classic island sunset over the water can visit Bishop’s Rock to the east, or Pebble Beach to the west. The former boasts vast views of Newport Bridge from the shoreline, while the latter invites guests to overlook Sakonnet River from the rocky bluffs. Nearby, Albro Woods connects visitors to the Sakonnet Greenway Trail, the longest hike on Aquidneck Island. But the real beaches—those that lure residents to the area—are at the island’s tip. About 4 miles south of Middletown, guests can sunbathe and swim at Easton’s Beach, explore Surfer’s End at Second Beach or launch boats at Third Beach. The Cliff Walk might seem like a tourist trap, but the long stretch around the bluffs offers panoramic views of million-dollar homes, old-growth flora and the expanse of Easton Bay. Exclusive recreation is found at a handful of nearby country clubs, including Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club and Newport National.
Middletown has some pristine fishing spots like this one at Pebble Beach, which anglers enjoy.
Public and private Newport County schools
Students can attend Newport County Schools, beginning at Forest Avenue Elementary. With a B on Niche, the school enrolls kindergarten through third grade with a population of about 300. Some families opt instead for private K-8 institutions like The Pennfield School in Portsmouth, which earns an A on Niche. Joseph H. Gaudet School earns a B-plus, enrolling middle-grade students before they finish up at Middletown High School. Earning the same score, Middletown High offers opportunities to join national, state and schoolwide honors societies.
Middletown High School in Middletown is accredited by the state and regional association.
Traversing Aquidneck Island
Middletown’s West and East Main Roads divide around Newport State Airport, a public-use airport primarily used by the corporate community. Though flights are less common than Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport—30 miles north—potential homebuyers should still consider the possibility of noise and interrupted traffic flow near the airport. Both Main Roads merge into Broadway, taking locals 3 miles south to Newport. The route to Providence is a bit trickier, as many opt for the 35-mile commute on Interstate 95 over the 28-mile stretch on I-195, as the latter crosses state lines. “There’s a big influx of navy every year who come for school or to man the base,” Heaney explains. “But because we’re close to Massachusetts, we do get a lot of commuters who may work up there, even in Boston.” Homebuyers should remember that the nearest hospitals are Care New England Health System in Providence or Southcoast Health, 33 miles north in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The Newport Regional Airport in Middletown offers skydiving and helicopter tours.
Balancing chain retail with family-owned businesses
West Main Road serves as Middletown's central thoroughfare, where shopping hubs straddle the street on the way to Newport. Most folks head to Stop & Shop for groceries, situated across from a handful of chain retail spots. Less than a mile down the road, Aldi shares a shopping center with Staples and Home Depot. Locally-owned businesses are rooted in the area, too, despite the sea of fast-food chains. Folks can veer off to Foodlove Market to check out groceries from small-batch suppliers and local partners. The French Confection is a family-owned bakery serving hand-crafted French pastries, while International Pocket Café offers authentic Middle Eastern cuisine “from the heart.” “Locals go to Newport in the winter. We avoid it in the summer,” Heaney says. “Warren has a really eclectic foodie scene that we check out instead.”
Foodlove Market has a fresh prepared food counter that tempts everyone in Middletown.
Keeping it local at Middletown’s farms and vineyards
Folks around Aquidneck Island have plenty of opportunities to shop for local products from nearby farms and vineyards. “There are a few places that sell meat or potatoes, and I shop local for squash and pumpkins,” Heaney says. “We have a farmer’s market in Newport and another here on Saturday mornings. We’re a little milder in the winter, so we can grow crops right up ‘til Thanksgiving.” Simmons Farm is more than a century old, selling fresh produce from the farm stand and inviting visitors to hike around the farm with goats on leashes. Meanwhile, Sweet Berry Farm sells all kinds of goodies, including pumpkins, apples and strawberries. Locals can even pick their own flowers. Newport Vineyards is a 60-acre estate serving wine alongside unfiltered beers with sharp, hoppy flavors. Boulevard Nurseries is a great place to shop locally for Christmas trees over the holidays.
Classic barrel ageing is a hallmark of Newport Vineyards in the Middletown neighborhood.
Written By
Dana Chesser
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
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On average, homes in Middletown, RI sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Middletown, RI over the last 12 months is $750,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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