Natick

Incorporated as a mill village in the early 20th century, current-day Natick maintains a gritty, post-industrial feel. Neighbors flock to this residential West Warwick enclave for its tightly knit streetscapes, proximity to shopping centers and highways and affordability compared to Providence and coastal Rhode Island. “As people get priced out of Providence, whether that’s investors or single-family homeowners, they look to other areas like Warwick and West Warwick, where the price point is lower,” says Jess Powers, team leader and associate broker at Hope State Living with eXp Realty in Rhode Island. “If you need to be in that area, it’s a good spot for the price point.” In Natick's residential areas, single-story houses from the late 20th century sit on small, quarter-acre lots. Driveways are small, streets are enclosed, and, in some areas multifamily homes sit next to each other on sloped streets, looking down at duplexes beneath them. Mid-20th century Cape Cods can cost $320,000, ranch-style houses can go for $380,000, 1970s raised ranch-style houses can cost $380,000 and clapboard townhouses can go for $350,000. The median price for a single-family home in West Warwick is $350,000.

One of the main reasons people move to Natick is its proximity to highways and shopping centers, says Powers, who has lived in Rhode Island for two decades. For people who need to commute to the southern part of the state, West Warwick is a convenient place to live. “If you work in south county, or if you work off Route 4 in Narragansett or Kingstown, that would be another driving factor, because Providence is too far and you wouldn’t want to deal with the traffic,” she says. The Midland Commons shopping center has clothing stores like Kohl’s and Burlington, home goods stores like At Home and Raymour & Flanigan Furniture and Mattress Store and big-box stores like Walmart. Department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom Rack are at the Warwick Mall, which also has a Target and an Apple Cinemas movie theatre with all the latest releases. After a day of shopping, neighbors can sit down for a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings or LongHorn Steakhouse or drive a few minutes to Apponaug Brewing Company, a relaxed brewpub with an outdoor patio along the Pawtuxet River. Order a flight of beers and a soft, salty pretzel for a relaxing afternoon.

Natick is known for the Waterfalls, an outdoor park and hiking area where the rocky terrain turns into white water rapids after it rains. People sit on benches and take in the majestic views or immerse themselves in the falls for an invigorating experience. On Saturday mornings, kids play baseball and softball at Natick Park, and little ones scale the park’s playground. Golfers will love the Midville Golf Club, a public course on rolling fields where 9 holes of golf cost $28, and daredevils will appreciate Central Rock Gym, a rock-climbing gym with top rope and bouldering walls, plus yoga and fitness classes.

Children in Natick-Westcott can attend West Warwick Public Schools, a district of about 3,500 students with a B-minus grade from Niche. Wakefield Hills Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating from Niche, is the closest school to the neighborhood. After fourth grade, kids can move on to John F. Deering Middle School (rated C-plus) and West Warwick High School (rated B). West Warwick High School was the first school in Rhode Island to produce the Disney musical “Frozen.” Located along Route 2, Route 4 and Interstate 295, Natick is a convenient home base. Providence is 11 miles north; Newport is 26 miles southeast and Boston is 61 miles away. With its enclosed suburban streets and 20th-century houses, Natick has all the charm and grit of a post-industrial suburb.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

Brett Bulthuis

Video By

GL Moses