Small Massachusetts town with commuter access
Settled in 1643, Rehoboth is a small Massachusetts town about 12 miles east of Providence. “It’s a very rural town; it used to be all farmland,” says Frances Casanova Silva, a broker with Your New Home Mkting who has over 40 years of experience. “Some of those big farms are now turning into beautiful homes.” Many residents travel to Providence or Boston for work, and there’s easy access to the commuter rail at Attleboro Station. “In New England, whenever you have a commuter rail close by, the houses just go boom,” Silva says. Shopping and dining are limited, and instead of pickleball courts, playgrounds and community pools, Rehoboth offers nature preserves, hiking trails and little ponds and creeks. “It’s like going back in time, but with big, beautiful houses,” Silva says.
Fast-moving market with new and historic homes
Rehoboth’s homes are diverse, dating from the 18th century through today. “Coming to Rehoboth, if you’re going for a single-family home, you’re looking at an acre to 2 acres,” Silva says. “You’re going to get big, full trees, gardens and big farms.” Colonials and ranch-style homes are typically set along rural tree-lined roads with space between neighbors. Newer homes are larger Colonial Revival estates, built in spacious residential enclaves over the past 25 years. “The market’s fast,” Silva says. “If you build it, they will come. I’ve probably sold 3,000 or 4,000 homes, but I’ve never quite seen what I’ve seen in Rehoboth. Usually, million-dollar homes sit awhile, but not these.” The median home price in Rehoboth is $720,000, compared to Providence’s median of $430,000. “Beautiful houses, just beautiful houses,” Silva says.
Career and college prep at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional District high schools
Rehoboth is a part of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District, which serves about 2,500 students and earns an overall B from Niche. Home of the Falcons, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional offers dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Bristol Community College. Students may also apply to Bristol County Agricultural School (locally called “Bristol Aggie”) in neighboring Dighton, which offers vocational majors like arboriculture, landscape design and environmental conservation.
Green spaces, wildlife and history
Rehoboth features pastoral landscapes with tranquil views. Rehoboth State Forest spans over 100 acres, offering dirt-packed trails shared by hikers, bikers and horseback riders that weave through red maples and eastern white pines. At Shad Factory Pond, fishing enthusiasts may cast lines for largemouth bass and chain pickerel, and birders can look for green-winged teals and red-winged blackbirds. For a round of golf, Pine Valley Country Club offers a public 18-hole course. In the summer, there are occasional concerts at Redway Plain, which features the Rehoboth Veterans Memorial.
Locally owned restaurants and farm-fresh groceries
Aside from Dunkin’ Donuts, there aren’t many franchises in Rehoboth, so residents shop and dine at small businesses. For groceries, Chartley Country Store has baked goods, butcher cuts and all the pantry essentials, while Homestead Farm is the place for locally grown fruits and veggies. Along U.S. Route 44 are a handful of mom-and-pop restaurants, including Vino’s Family Cafe, which serves homestyle comfort fare. “It’s a cute little place where everybody from Rehoboth goes,” Silva says. “You can hear them talking. It’s small, but it’s great.” iAlive is another highlight, offering New England seafood with Portuguese flavors. After dinner, Campfire Tavern and Table is a laid-back, rustic spot to enjoy locally brewed beer outdoors by the fire.
Community events with art and seafood
“A famous place in the summer is Francis Farm — they do the clam bakes and everything,” Silva says. At the annual Old Thyme Clambake, folks load their plates with clams, sausages and chorizo while enjoying live music and community. The Larry Procopio Rehoboth Harvest Block Party is held in September at Redway Plain. The party includes food vendors, a farmer’s market and even helicopter rides. There’s also the Arts in the Village Concert Series at Goff Memorial Hall with world-class visiting musicians, and artisan shows and occasionally held throughout the year at the Carpenter Museum.
Highway and rail access for commuters
U.S. Route 44 passes through Rehoboth, granting easy access 12 miles west to Providence and 47 miles northeast to Boston. “You don’t feel the highway, but it’s there, and you can get to it fast,” Silva says. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail stops at Attleboro Station, 9 miles away. “It will take you to Boston, Newport, anywhere you want to go,” Silva says. Morton Hospital is 9 miles away, and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is 18 miles away.
Crime and environmental factors
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, between 2013 and 2023, the annual number of violent and property crimes in Rehoboth decreased by about 69%. The overall violent and property crime rates here are lower than those in Massachusetts and the nation. Summers are warm and humid, and winters are cold, with 38 inches of snow annually. Bristol County is at moderate risk of flooding and hurricanes.
