East Greenwich #2: RI’s Best Communities 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

GoLocalProv Best Communities Team

East Greenwich

It's one of a select handful of Rhode Island communities that lure away young, aspirational Providence families who seek small-town life and top-shelf schools. This town, the West Bay heavyweight with a quaint main street and its own underappreciated waterfront, has not only ruled GoLocalProv's Top High Schools rankings for 3 years, but uses its overall educational performance to muscle into the Top 3 in 2012's Best Community line-up, up 3 spots from last year.

It's East Greenwich, of course, the #2 Best Community for 2012. Second to its East Bay competitor, Barrington, for the top slot in the Education rankings for the 2nd year in a row, this mid-sized town of just over 13,000 residents takes the #8 spot in Economic Condition (and posts the state's 4th-highest Median Household Income, at $93,636), placing #10 in Restaurants & Bars and #12 in Safety.

East Greenwich by the numbers

Established: 1677
Population: 13,146
Median household income: $93,636
Median housing price: $433,750

2012 Best Communities rankings

Overall ranking: 2
Affordability ranking: 34
Education ranking: 2
Economic condition ranking: 8
Safety ranking: 12
Arts & Culture ranking: 13
Restaurants & Bars ranking: 10

History in a nutshell:

East Greenwich, the 8th oldest community in the state, was formerly owned and inhabited by Narragansett Indian Tribe. In 1655, with the help of the king’s commission, East Greenwich was acquired as part of the colony of Rhode Island. in 1677, East Greenwich was incorporated as a town, when land was given to men who fought against King Philip in the Metacom War. East Greenwich, which takes its namesake from East Greenwich, County Kent, England was changed for a short while to Dedford, before being changed back in 1689. Geographically located in the center of Rhode Island, East Greenwich provided a protected port in Narragansett Bay and became a center for fishing and ship building. Today, East Greenwich remains a thriving town with a distinct and unique flair all its own.

Famous residents:

Donald Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island
Suzanne Carcieri, First Lady of Rhode Island
Debra Messing, actress
Mark Zito, radio host
Leeann Tingley, 2006 Miss Rhode Island USA
Robin Kall, WHJJ radio host, columnist

For more Best Communities coverage, don't miss GoLocalTV, fresh every day at 4pm and on demand 24/7, here.

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