With charismatic cities, plenty of natural beauty, and easy access to health care and other Northeastern metropolitan areas, Rhode Island has a lot to offer in retirement.
While the state is not the least expensive place to spend your retirement, if you have enough savings, or you are moving from a more expensive part of New England or New York City, Rhode Island's relatively high cost of living and taxes won't provide as much sticker shock as if you're coming from the South or the Midwest.
Here are four benefits to retirement in Rhode Island.
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1. Natural beauty
With 400 miles of coastline comprising its tiny borders, Rhode Island packs a big punch for folks who have dreamed of retiring by the sea. Although the water here isn't warm year-round like Florida, the state boasts ritzy summer vacation hotspots like Newport, where the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers used to holiday during the Gilded Age, and also dozens upon dozens of sandy white beaches and seaside cliffs dotted with lighthouses to explore.
2. Quirky towns
Bristol is a top retirement spot in Rhode Island. The town calls itself America's most patriotic, and a
ccording to MarketWatch.com, the slogan is fitting.
"A quick spin along its main drag Hope Street shows you why: Rather than yellow lines, the street is divided by permanent red, white, and blue stripes. It’s home to the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration in the country — the event attracts thousands of revelers, and bands from across the state come to play — and many of the homes permanently and proudly display a highflying American flag out front," the website states in its Rhode Island retirement report.
3. Educated population
Rhode Island is appealing to educated retirees from an intellectual perspective. Despite its tiny size, the states hosts two top-of-their-kind higher learning institutions: Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League, and the Rhode Island Institute of Design, which is one of the best arts schools in America. As such, there is always something going on — from lectures to exhibits — to keep retirees' brains engaged.
“There are so many talented and creative people and cultural opportunities here,” lawyer Don Gralnek, 67, who retired in Rhode Island from Menlo Park, California, told MarketWatch.com. “You’ll be walking down the street and just bump into something kind of new and inspiring.”
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4. Easy access to everything
Rhode Island's small size means it is easy to live in one of its quaint seaside towns but get into Providence for a theater performance in less than an hour. This is also a perk if you need access to high quality health care. And should your loved ones be living in other Northeastern hubs like New York City or Boston, both cities are easy to access from Rhode Island.
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