You don’t want to live in Providence but you still want to be close to the City so you have your eye on Cranston--but you want to figure out the different areas & where your budget meets your lifestyle. You’ve landed on the right video because I’m going to tell you all about Cranston right now!
I’m Jess Powers, I’m a full time real estate agent that works throughout Rhode Island. I use this channel to help first time buyers, sellers, & folks who are relocating to our amazing state! I have people reaching out to me all the time & I absolutely love it so send me a text, email or give me a call! If you tell me two or three things that you need I can pinpoint right where you will want to buy. If you love the convenience, culture, and cuisine of city life, but prefer to live on a suburban or small city scale, Cranston could be your best next move!
Cranston is the Ocean State’s second-biggest city, centrally located at the heart of it all. It is bordered by Providence and Johnston to the north; Warwick and West Warwick to the south; the Providence River to the east; and Scituate to the west.
Home to more than 30 neighborhoods and villages, Cranston truly is a city of distinct and unique communities--and it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly what area is best for you. The median sale price for single family homes is $347k but there’s a pretty wide range of prices depending upon the neighborhood. As you drive through the city, you can see how history has developed many of Cranston’s residential neighborhoods from east to west. You’ll find many historic homes that were built in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s along Cranston’s coastal eastern edge in the Pawtuxet Village and Edgewood neighborhoods--these are two of my favorite neighborhoods & I’ll tell you more about them later on.
In the Auburn and Eden Park areas, you’ll find a vibrant city center that grew rapidly in the late 19th century, as Providence expanded its trolley lines--why did they get rid of those, that would be so great to still have….. As you move west towards Garden City and Dean Estates, you’ll find mid-century homes in suburban neighborhoods that sprung up after WWII. Further west, you’ll find newer developments built in the 70s through the 2000s, and working farms that are still in operation today.
Residents love that Cranston offers a bit of everything, and when they have to leave the city, being at the center of the state is especially convenient. Downtown Providence, public transportation, and all major highways are easily in reach. And the beaches are just a short trip south.
At the center of Cranston are some of its most popular destinations, like Garden City Center, which is basically an open-air mall with stores like Fat Face (seriously, who came up with that name??), Black & White Market, Pottery Barn, Sephora---you get the picture. I will say that Garden City has some good restaurants--we love Chaska, it’s a great Indian Restaurant, Avvio--Italian cuisine owned by Newport Restaurant Group, & Tavern on the Square which is obnoxious with a million giant TV’s & it’s loud but they have an amazing Greek Salad so I suck it up. Since I live in Scituate, Garden City is a decent alternative to finding decent food when I don’t want to make the trek to Providence. The homes adjacent to Garden City have been there since the 30’s & 40’s--a lot of Colonial-style Homes with that charm that buyers love from that era. The prices are in the mid 300-400’s
I love driving through Dean Estates which was a neighborhood established in the mid 50’s & 60’s. This was a high end neighborhood--there are beautiful mature trees & a lot of really great ranch style homes--I’ve been in some fabulous mid-century homes in this neighborhood. This was originally built as an exclusive, high end neighborhood built in the early 50’s through the mid 80’s. Homes tend to be more expensive in this neighborhood--500-800k.
Another area in Cranston that I really like is Rolfe Square, part of the Eden Park or Auburn neighborhood. It’s a bit of a cultural hub and historic commercial corridor that features 2 theaters and some good dining options; Park Theatre will be re-opening & I’ve heard that they’re going to also serve food there. There’s a Dave’s Market--a popular, locally owned grocery store, right here too so all the folks that live in this neighborhood have access to kind of whatever they need. And Durfee Hardware which has been here since 1929. There’s still some empty spaces in this area that hopefully will be filled over the next few years. There’s a good pizza place & bar that opened up called Bettola & a great spot for brunch called Mesa. I’ve always found this neighborhood to be a smart area to invest in---the homes are charming, the lots are larger so the yards are great for families, & it’s been one of the more affordable areas of Cranston that still has close proximity to Providence. Prices range from the mid-300’s up to the mid-400’s. You’ll find a lot of Colonials, Capes, & Bungalows in this neighborhood. Primarily single family, owner occupied homes with a few two unit properties and condos sprinkled in.
Knightsville neighborhood which borders western Cranston has been home to the St. Mary's Feast, a week-long summer festival with vendors, a carnival, fireworks, and an annual religious procession. One of my favorite Italian deli’s, Lou Umberto’s, is on Cranston St--a trip just to get their pizza chips is worth it but the sell out EVERY DAY so you have to go early. This is one of those quirky Rhode Island only food things--kind of like pizza strips only better. There are several other really great Italian restaurants in this area that you should check out. There are a lot of homes in this neighborhood & it tends to be one of the more affordable areas--you’ll find many ranch style homes as the area was mostly developed in the 50’s & 60’s.
The north eastern side of the city draws visitors from all over the state to its historic Pawtuxet Village neighborhood, which has great dining and water views, and is home to Gaspee Days, a month-long celebration of family-friendly festivals and events. I’ve got a separate video for you to check out that talks just about Pawtuxet Village. It’s a popular area and prices are really skyrocketing, you can find homes in the mid-300k range on the Warwick side of Pawtuxet Village but closer to the village, or waterfront, or headed into Edgewood the prices start around $500k & head upwards of 1M.
The north eastern most area of Cranston is the Edgewood neighborhood. I’ve created an entire video dedicated to Edgewood so I won’t go into too much detail here--check that one out after you’ve watched this video. I want to make sure that you don’t move to the wrong neighborhood that’s going to be best for you! Edgewood is bordered by Providence & Roger Williams Park. And there are homes from just about every decade, style, plus multi family homes & condos. It’s a large neighborhood so there’s a lot to learn as each area of Edgewood offers something different for everyone. With its close proximity to Providence and similar style homes, Edgewood is a bit of an alternative to those who are looking for homes on the East Side of Providence.
Western Cranston, which is outside of the 295 beltway, is well-known for its family-owned farms, there are a couple of golf courses, and some well established neighborhoods that were built in the mid-80’s through the early 2000’s like Comstock Gardens, Alpine Estates or Orchard Valley. Homes in these neighborhoods are higher priced than most of Cranston--the closer you get to Scituate the higher the price, in part because they are the newer developments. Homes typically range from the mid-500’s to $800k. There are a few new construction developments in Western Cranston as well. This area borders Scituate & is definitely more rural---I mean nothing is really very far in Rhode Island & from the western-most home it’s still just 15-20 minutes to Providence but RI’ers are reluctant to travel much further than 5 or 10 minutes so some folks consider Western Cranston far way….
With so many neighborhoods and things to do in one small city, you might wonder where to even begin your search. That’s where I come in---give me three of four of your main criteria & I can pinpoint exactly where to look so be sure to reach out! I’d love to get to know you & learn more about what you’re looking for.
I’m Jess Powers, I’m a full time real estate agent that works throughout Rhode Island. I use this channel to help first time buyers, sellers, & folks who are relocating to our amazing state! I have people reaching out to me all the time & I absolutely love it so send me a text, email or give me a call! If you tell me two or three things that you need I can pinpoint right where you will want to buy. If you love the convenience, culture, and cuisine of city life, but prefer to live on a suburban or small city scale, Cranston could be your best next move!
Cranston is the Ocean State’s second-biggest city, centrally located at the heart of it all. It is bordered by Providence and Johnston to the north; Warwick and West Warwick to the south; the Providence River to the east; and Scituate to the west.
Home to more than 30 neighborhoods and villages, Cranston truly is a city of distinct and unique communities--and it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly what area is best for you. The median sale price for single family homes is $347k but there’s a pretty wide range of prices depending upon the neighborhood. As you drive through the city, you can see how history has developed many of Cranston’s residential neighborhoods from east to west. You’ll find many historic homes that were built in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s along Cranston’s coastal eastern edge in the Pawtuxet Village and Edgewood neighborhoods--these are two of my favorite neighborhoods & I’ll tell you more about them later on.
In the Auburn and Eden Park areas, you’ll find a vibrant city center that grew rapidly in the late 19th century, as Providence expanded its trolley lines--why did they get rid of those, that would be so great to still have….. As you move west towards Garden City and Dean Estates, you’ll find mid-century homes in suburban neighborhoods that sprung up after WWII. Further west, you’ll find newer developments built in the 70s through the 2000s, and working farms that are still in operation today.
Residents love that Cranston offers a bit of everything, and when they have to leave the city, being at the center of the state is especially convenient. Downtown Providence, public transportation, and all major highways are easily in reach. And the beaches are just a short trip south.
At the center of Cranston are some of its most popular destinations, like Garden City Center, which is basically an open-air mall with stores like Fat Face (seriously, who came up with that name??), Black & White Market, Pottery Barn, Sephora---you get the picture. I will say that Garden City has some good restaurants--we love Chaska, it’s a great Indian Restaurant, Avvio--Italian cuisine owned by Newport Restaurant Group, & Tavern on the Square which is obnoxious with a million giant TV’s & it’s loud but they have an amazing Greek Salad so I suck it up. Since I live in Scituate, Garden City is a decent alternative to finding decent food when I don’t want to make the trek to Providence. The homes adjacent to Garden City have been there since the 30’s & 40’s--a lot of Colonial-style Homes with that charm that buyers love from that era. The prices are in the mid 300-400’s
I love driving through Dean Estates which was a neighborhood established in the mid 50’s & 60’s. This was a high end neighborhood--there are beautiful mature trees & a lot of really great ranch style homes--I’ve been in some fabulous mid-century homes in this neighborhood. This was originally built as an exclusive, high end neighborhood built in the early 50’s through the mid 80’s. Homes tend to be more expensive in this neighborhood--500-800k.
Another area in Cranston that I really like is Rolfe Square, part of the Eden Park or Auburn neighborhood. It’s a bit of a cultural hub and historic commercial corridor that features 2 theaters and some good dining options; Park Theatre will be re-opening & I’ve heard that they’re going to also serve food there. There’s a Dave’s Market--a popular, locally owned grocery store, right here too so all the folks that live in this neighborhood have access to kind of whatever they need. And Durfee Hardware which has been here since 1929. There’s still some empty spaces in this area that hopefully will be filled over the next few years. There’s a good pizza place & bar that opened up called Bettola & a great spot for brunch called Mesa. I’ve always found this neighborhood to be a smart area to invest in---the homes are charming, the lots are larger so the yards are great for families, & it’s been one of the more affordable areas of Cranston that still has close proximity to Providence. Prices range from the mid-300’s up to the mid-400’s. You’ll find a lot of Colonials, Capes, & Bungalows in this neighborhood. Primarily single family, owner occupied homes with a few two unit properties and condos sprinkled in.
Knightsville neighborhood which borders western Cranston has been home to the St. Mary's Feast, a week-long summer festival with vendors, a carnival, fireworks, and an annual religious procession. One of my favorite Italian deli’s, Lou Umberto’s, is on Cranston St--a trip just to get their pizza chips is worth it but the sell out EVERY DAY so you have to go early. This is one of those quirky Rhode Island only food things--kind of like pizza strips only better. There are several other really great Italian restaurants in this area that you should check out. There are a lot of homes in this neighborhood & it tends to be one of the more affordable areas--you’ll find many ranch style homes as the area was mostly developed in the 50’s & 60’s.
The north eastern side of the city draws visitors from all over the state to its historic Pawtuxet Village neighborhood, which has great dining and water views, and is home to Gaspee Days, a month-long celebration of family-friendly festivals and events. I’ve got a separate video for you to check out that talks just about Pawtuxet Village. It’s a popular area and prices are really skyrocketing, you can find homes in the mid-300k range on the Warwick side of Pawtuxet Village but closer to the village, or waterfront, or headed into Edgewood the prices start around $500k & head upwards of 1M.
The north eastern most area of Cranston is the Edgewood neighborhood. I’ve created an entire video dedicated to Edgewood so I won’t go into too much detail here--check that one out after you’ve watched this video. I want to make sure that you don’t move to the wrong neighborhood that’s going to be best for you! Edgewood is bordered by Providence & Roger Williams Park. And there are homes from just about every decade, style, plus multi family homes & condos. It’s a large neighborhood so there’s a lot to learn as each area of Edgewood offers something different for everyone. With its close proximity to Providence and similar style homes, Edgewood is a bit of an alternative to those who are looking for homes on the East Side of Providence.
Western Cranston, which is outside of the 295 beltway, is well-known for its family-owned farms, there are a couple of golf courses, and some well established neighborhoods that were built in the mid-80’s through the early 2000’s like Comstock Gardens, Alpine Estates or Orchard Valley. Homes in these neighborhoods are higher priced than most of Cranston--the closer you get to Scituate the higher the price, in part because they are the newer developments. Homes typically range from the mid-500’s to $800k. There are a few new construction developments in Western Cranston as well. This area borders Scituate & is definitely more rural---I mean nothing is really very far in Rhode Island & from the western-most home it’s still just 15-20 minutes to Providence but RI’ers are reluctant to travel much further than 5 or 10 minutes so some folks consider Western Cranston far way….
With so many neighborhoods and things to do in one small city, you might wonder where to even begin your search. That’s where I come in---give me three of four of your main criteria & I can pinpoint exactly where to look so be sure to reach out! I’d love to get to know you & learn more about what you’re looking for.