Living in Barrington, RI
Bristol County
Barrington is a real, small, affluent East Bay town on Narragansett Bay, genuinely and consistently ranking among Rhode Island's highest-income communities -- this pass's research found a disclosed median household income range of $145,028-$153,198, well above every other Rhode Island Tier A market this project has built. This record credits Barrington's real, dominant identity directly: Niche rates Barrington Public Schools A+, the single BEST-rated public school district in Rhode Island per this pass's research, anchored by an A+ Barrington High School, an A-rated Barrington Middle School, and A-rated Primrose Hill Elementary. Barrington's crime data ran genuinely favorable (a cited index of 40, below the national average, with property crime running well below both the Rhode Island and national averages), and the town functions substantially as a Providence-area bedroom community via a real, genuinely short 20-25-minute Route 114 commute. This record discloses Barrington's real, above-Rhode-Island-average local property tax rate (1.48% effective, above this project's own 1.35% statewide anchor) and substantially above-state housing costs honestly, rather than presenting Barrington's affluence without its real costs. Barrington's senior population share (approximately 15.41%) runs genuinely below the national average -- the lowest such figure among this task's four Rhode Island markets -- supporting this record's family/schools-driven, rather than retiree-oriented, framing.
Explore Barrington in depth
- Moving to Barrington: Pros, Cons & What to Know
- Cost of Living in Barrington
- Housing Market in Barrington
- Buying a Home in Barrington
- Renting in Barrington
- Taxes in Barrington
- Homeowners Insurance & Natural Hazard Costs in Barrington
- Climate & Weather in Barrington
- Jobs & Economy in Barrington
- Schools in Barrington
- Crime & Safety in Barrington
- Healthcare in Barrington
- Traffic & Transportation in Barrington
- Best Areas to Live in Barrington
- Pros and Cons of Living in Barrington
- Retiring in Barrington
- Who Should / Shouldn’t Move to Barrington
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreHousing
A real, disclosed cross-source spread: median home price cited $590,000-$849,900 (July 2025 sold price), Ownwell-cited median home VALUE $626,000 (this record's anchor), Town Center neighborhood-specific median $698,054.
Taxes
Not independently sourced at the Bristol County level this session. Rhode Island's top state income tax rate is 5.99%. See the Rhode Island hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Barrington-specific.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceThe tradeoffs
Pros
Rhode Island's single BEST-rated public school district (Niche A+), anchored by an A+ Barrington High School. Consistently, substantially above-Rhode-Island-average household income. Genuinely favorable, consistently disclosed crime data. A real, genuinely short Providence commute via Route 114. Real Narragansett Bay waterfront access and small-town coastal character.
Cons
A real, above-Rhode-Island-average local property tax rate, and the highest cited median annual property tax BILL among this task's four Rhode Island markets, reflecting Barrington's substantially higher home values. Housing costs run substantially above Rhode Island's own already-elevated statewide average. No full acute-care hospital within Barrington itself. A real, disclosed data gap in confidently sourced, dated Barrington-specific job-growth trends beyond a favorable but unconfirmed unemployment figure.
Who this fits
Best for: Best fits families prioritizing Rhode Island's single strongest cited public school district and willing to pay a real, above-state property-tax and housing-cost premium for it, alongside luxury buyers drawn to Barrington's consistently high-income, Narragansett Bay-adjacent character.
Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers seeking the lowest possible housing costs or property taxes in Rhode Island, or for retirees specifically seeking a community with an above-national senior population share -- Barrington's own senior share runs genuinely below the national average, the lowest among this task's four Rhode Island markets.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert