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Newport Rhode Island Aerial ViewNewport, #1 on this list · Photo: MVASCO · CC BY-SA 3.0
Rhode Island rankings · History

Most historic towns in Rhode Island

Newport ranks first on history among Rhode Island’s 38 towns of 2,500+; 31 of the 38 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Newport

Newport County · 24,251 people
A+

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #34 of 38 in RI

#2

Providence

Providence County · 195,310 people
A+

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #36 of 38 in RI

#3

Warren

Bristol County · 11,070 people
A+

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #23 of 38 in RI

All 38 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

38 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1NewportNewport County · 24,251 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #34 of 38
2ProvidenceProvidence County · 195,310 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #36 of 38
3WarrenBristol County · 11,070 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #23 of 38
4Central FallsProvidence County · 23,124 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall D− · #38 of 38
5BristolBristol County · 21,970 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 38
6ScituateProvidence County · 10,767 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 38
7PawtucketProvidence County · 77,065 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #35 of 38
8WesterlyWashington County · 23,139 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 38
9CranstonProvidence County · 84,647 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #31 of 38
10FosterProvidence County · 4,628 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 38
11East GreenwichKent County · 14,790 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 38
12JamestownNewport County · 5,480 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 38
13BurrillvilleProvidence County · 16,927 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #26 of 38
14WarwickKent County · 84,187 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #29 of 38
15South KingstownWashington County · 32,009 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 38
16Little ComptonNewport County · 3,535 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #4 of 38
17RichmondWashington County · 8,128 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 38
18North SmithfieldProvidence County · 12,990 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 38
19LincolnProvidence County · 23,713 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 38
20HopkintonWashington County · 8,393 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 38
21CumberlandProvidence County · 37,615 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 38
22TivertonNewport County · 15,809 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 38
23GlocesterProvidence County · 10,612 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 38
24BarringtonBristol County · 16,961 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 38
25MiddletownNewport County · 16,502 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 38
26WoonsocketProvidence County · 44,580 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #37 of 38
27PortsmouthNewport County · 17,474 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #5 of 38
28CoventryKent County · 36,281 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #27 of 38
29North KingstownWashington County · 27,885 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 38
30NarragansettWashington County · 14,291 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 38
31JohnstonProvidence County · 30,494 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #30 of 38
32SmithfieldProvidence County · 22,625 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 38
33West WarwickKent County · 31,487 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #33 of 38
34East ProvidenceProvidence County · 48,249 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #32 of 38
35North ProvidenceProvidence County · 34,833 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #28 of 38
36ExeterWashington County · 6,540 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 38
37West GreenwichKent County · 6,750 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 38
38CharlestownWashington County · 8,002 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 38
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Rhode Island?

Newport (Newport County) ranks first on history among 38 towns, with an A+; Providence and Warren follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (38 in Rhode Island). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Rhode Island page.

Go deeper

More Rhode Island lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Rhode Island rankings →
Best places to live38 towns · #1 East GreenwichMost affordable towns38 towns · #1 BurrillvilleSafest towns36 towns · #1 GlocesterTowns with the best schools38 towns · #1 JamestownHealthiest towns38 towns · #1 BarringtonBest towns for jobs & income38 towns · #1 BarringtonMost walkable towns38 towns · #1 NewportTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk38 towns · #1 JamestownBest towns for the outdoors38 towns · #1 CumberlandTowns with the most civic life38 towns · #1 Little ComptonTowns with the least snow38 towns · #1 WesterlyDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns38 towns · #1 CoventryDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters38 towns · #1 Narragansett and NewportDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers38 towns · #1 WoonsocketDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers38 towns · #1 Charlestown and 2 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes38 towns · #1 East GreenwichDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes37 towns · #1 CharlestownDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns38 towns · #1 GlocesterDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries29 towns · #1 WesterlyDescribed, no letters
Other states

Most historic towns in other states

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