BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Providence, RI

C
Score
54/100
Rank #119 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Providence can work for retirement if you’re optimizing for typical rent (2br) and typical home value. Overall, it’s around the middle of the pack (#119 of 200). The biggest tradeoff is age 65+ share.

Methodology · Sources · RI rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Providence ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,323/mo (8% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $322,800 (7% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 15% (37% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Age 65+ share: 12% (16% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 88% (3% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
190,214
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,323/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$322,800
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
12%
National median: 14%
Median age
33
National median: —
Median household income
$66,772
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
88%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
76/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
18/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
88/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
85/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

18%
Less than HS
47%
HS / Some college
18%
Bachelor’s
16%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

12%
Age 65+
88%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

88%
Broadband
12%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,323/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$322,800
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
12%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$66,772
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
88%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
15%

Similar cities (by score)

#117 Charlotte, NC
55/100
#118 Murfreesboro, TN
55/100
#120 Naperville, IL
54/100
#121 Grand Prairie, TX
54/100

FAQ

›What is Providence’s retirement score and rank?
Providence, RI scores C (54/100) and ranks #119 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Providence city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Providence, RI?
Population is about 190,214 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Providence, RI?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in Providence, RI?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,323/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $322,800 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Providence, RI?
Age 65+ share is 12% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in Providence, RI?
Broadband subscription is 88% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Providence, RI?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 18%, HS/some college 47%, bachelor’s 18%, advanced 16%.
›Where does this data come from for Providence, RI?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).