In southeast Washington County, Rhode Island, Narragansett is well-known for its beaches. “It’s an iconic coastal town. People come from all over to get primary and secondary homes,” says Realtor Kelly Schneider of Narragansett-based Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty. According to the United States Census Bureau, less than 70% of Narragansett’s housing is permanently owner-occupied, the remaining 31% is rented. Its reputation as a resort town started with the construction of the first hotel in 1856 and continued with the addition of The Towers, a social activity hub, in 1886. Today, Narragansett’s population more than doubles each summer when seasonal visitors join more than 14,500 year-round residents to enjoy a classic New England summer on the Atlantic coast.
Narragansett is a coastal oasis with rocky shorelines, lighthouses, and world renowned seafood.
Cast your line out from the rocky shores of Narragansett.
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Block Island Sound and Atlantic oceanfront recreation
This small South County town is home to three state beaches, including Scarborough State Beach. First developed in the 1930s, Scarborough is now one of Rhode Island’s most-visited beaches. Salty Brine and Roger Wheeler state beaches, southwest around Point Judith from Scarborough, overlook Block Island Sound. All three waterfronts are swimmable, and have lifeguards in the summer, but Salty Brine and Roger Wheeler are especially popular among families with young children for their gentler surf. Narragansett Town Beach also has seasonal lifeguards. Town Beach cabanas, pavilion event spaces and locker rentals are available to residents/taxpayers. Parking passes are required at all of Narragansett’s many beaches. Costs vary, and passes typically cannot be purchased on-site, so visitors are encouraged to check the town website in advance. A variety of dryland recreation is available inland, including the private, century-old Point Judith Country Club and Canonchet Farm, a nearly 200-acre public forest with festival fields, an apple orchard and livestock stables. In the middle of Canonchet Farm, a 1 ½ mile trail circles the South County Museum, which features local history exhibits and hosts special events like guest lectures and themed walks.
Scarborough State Beach is a popular spot for beachgoers to sunbathe and take in the serenity.
Scarborough State Beach is popular for its pristine beaches and waterfront trails.
Enjoy serenity as you walk along the rocky shorelines of Narragansett.
Stroll along Scarborough State Beach with your dog for unobstructed ocean views and serenity.
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Homes sell for well-over the Rhode Island median
Narragansett homes are arranged in neat rows of flat, grid-patterned streets. They often have manicured, minimally landscaped front lawns. In neighborhoods like Mettatuxet, on the north side, split-levels and Colonial Revivals built between the1970s and ‘80s abound. One-story, shingled cottages and wood siding-clad bungalows fill neighborhoods closer to the beach, while large, multi-story estates line the coast. List prices run anywhere from $275,000 for modest 1980s coastal cottages to nearly $8 million for palatial, waterfront estates built in the late 1880s. The Rhode Island Association of Realtors reports the median single-family home sale price in Narragansett, at $910,000, is more than $400,000 higher than the Rhode Island median, which is closer to $490,000. Condos cost more here, too, with a median sale price of $550,000 compared to the state median of $352,250.
Contemporary Colonial style homes are a popular choice among Narragansett homeowners.
Beach cottages near Scarborough State Beach are a quick and easy way for instant beach access.
This Gaspee road Colonial style home is within steps to pristine state beaches in Narragansett.
Contemporary Colonial style homes are abundant in the Narragansett area.
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Small, highly rated Narragansett School System
Narragansett School System, the town’s public school district, gets an A grade from Niche. The small district serves more than 1,100 students across three schools with an average student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. B-rated Middlebridge School is an independent, co-ed boarding and day school in Narragansett. Established in 2008, the private college-prep school serves students with language-based learning differences and attention diagnoses. The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, one of Narragansett’s biggest employers, is based on the north end of town. The 153-acre campus is home to URI’s Coastal Institute on Narragansett Bay, featuring an interactive coastal environment exhibit and a conference center with a 100-seat auditorium.
Sprague Park features a playground and baseball field.
Narragansett High school is usually within the top 10 high schools in the state.
Narragansett Elementary School has 387 students a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
Narragansett Pier School has 312 students in grades 5-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
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Narragansett Pier Marketplace, Port of Galilee retailers and restaurants
Narragansett Pier Marketplace is a centrally located shopping and dining district with nearly 20 regionally owned small businesses and eateries. It’s across Ocean Road from The Towers, which opened in 1883 as an entertainment hall. The historic local landmark is still in use today as an event venue, hosting dances, live music and craft shows. Shopping centers around the corner of South Pier Road and Point Judith Road, less than 2 miles east of The Towers, are home to national chain retailers and restaurants. At the south end of Narragansett, the Port of Galilee is a working fishing village with seafood eateries and markets. The busy port is home to more than 200 fishing vessels and their crews, making it a major local employer and part of Rhode Island’s multi-million-dollar fishing industry. The state is known as the squid capital of the East Coast; short and longfin squid are top catches in the Port of Galilee, and the annual Rhode Island Calamari Festival & Cook-off celebrates the official state appetizer in Narragansett annually.
Stop by Crazy Burger for lunch, an iconic eatery that grabbed the attention of Guy Fieri.
Sit down at Crazy Burger in Narragansett to see what Guy Fieri raves about.
Stop in for a burger at Crazy Burger, a divey eatery who grabbed the attention of Guy Fieri.
Stop and Shop is just a short drive from anywhere in Narragansett.
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The departure of summer residents means less traffic in the winter
When the chilly weather rolls in, Narragansett becomes a “sleepy town,” according to Re/Max Results Realtor Devin Sheehan, who profiles real estate on his Living in Rhode Island YouTube channel. He adds that the departure of the seasonal residents means fewer pedestrians, fewer people on the road and quicker commutes around town. Commuting to big employers such as South County Hospital, in Wakefield about 4 miles west, goes from a nearly 15-minute drive to about an 8-minute drive. Driving 30 miles north to Providence, a major regional employment hub, typically takes the same amount of time regardless of the season, about 40 minutes on U.S. Route 1. The state highway runs north-south along the west side of Narragansett, within about 5 miles of most homes. Route 1 also connects about 24 miles north to the Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, in Warwick. While Narragansett is a primarily car-dependent community, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority provides bus service throughout town, with stops on main streets like Point Judith and Ocean roads.
Stroll along the shoreline at East Matunuck State Beach to take in views of Block Island Sound.
South Kingstown is an idyllic coastal community that offers a true New England experience.
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A decline in crime between 2020 and 2023
According to FBI data, 59 violent crimes occurred in Narragansett in 2023, a more than 15% decline from 2020, when the agency reported 68. Property crimes declined by more than 47% over the same three-year period, from 81 in 2020 to 55 in 2023.
Michelle has brought her 30-plus years of sales and customer service experience to HomeSmart, where she has been helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals for the past five years. With a strong focus on exceptional customer service and a commitment to building lifelong relationships with her clients, Michelle has earned a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy professional.
Michelle has lived in the town of West Warwick with her husband, Patrick, for over 25 years. Together, they have raised two children, Nicholas and Natalie, and Michelle takes great pride in supporting her children's interests and activities, including attending concerts and helping to raise funds for their school music program. When she's not spending time with her family she helps out at the West Warwick High School concession stand and has sponsored some of the local youth sports teams.
Michelle is a Homes for Heroes affiliate. Growing up, she lived in a military family with her father who served in the United States Army for 23 years, and now she's married to a Police Sergeant and Army Veteran has changed her outlook on what selfless service means. Her son also being a Sergeant in the US Army and a Trooper in The RI State Police in today's housing market has made her appreciate the work Homes for Heroes does for First Responders and service members.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
