Best Communities: Rhode Island Reacts

Best Communities: Rhode Island Reacts

GoLocalProv’s ranking of the best communities in Rhode Island was a mixed surprise for several state leaders interviewed yesterday.

One advocate for affordable housing said she was not surprised that Cranston topped the list. “Cranston is a great place to live,” said Chris Hannifan, the executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island and a former resident of the city. “I can see why Cranston might be considered the best place to live.”

Affordable Housing Key

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But Hannifan was not sure about the other four communities that came out in the top five—Foster, South Kingstown, Glocester, and Barrington, saying they did not have much affordable housing. “Most people would want to live in Barrington. I think it’s an extremely desirable place to live,” she said. “But I think their housing is on the higher end of the scale.”

The term affordable housing usually refers to housing that someone who makes 80 percent of the median income can afford. GoLocalProv, however, looked at the ratio of median income itself to housing costs.

But Hannifan said she though affordable housing was a better indicator of a great community, saying it was a sign of diversity. “I think great communities are made up of all types of individuals,” she said. “You need people of all incomes. You need people of all backgrounds ... all ethnicities.”

The Role of Schools

Education commissioner Deborah Gist told GoLocalProv that good schools were key in evaluating a community. “Great public schools and great communities go hand in hand,” Gist said. “Certainly, people look at the quality of the public schools when deciding where to live, where to raise a family, and where to start a business. Great schools help us to identify great communities.”

Besides drawing people to a community, Gist noted that great schools produce successful graduates who are more likely to stay in their hometown or come back to it—further contributing to their community.

“We cannot have a high quality of life in our state without an excellent education system,” Gist added. “Today, we have great schools in many communities. Someday, we will have great schools in every community in Rhode Island.”

One state organization involved in tourism and economic development, declined to pick favorites. Melissa Chambers, a spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation said the group believed that there were great aspects to all the communities in the state.