10 Best Coastal Towns in New England
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Newport lies at the southern end of Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay, about 30 miles southeast of Providence. Known for its exceptional sailing, Gilded Age mansions, and seaside spots, Newport is regarded as a New England summer resort town. Once a major Colonial seaport in the British Empire before the American Revolution, Newport is now a world-class destination filled with pristine beaches, yachting, golfing, fine art and architecture, state parks, and authentic historical sites.
Newport is best experienced from its historic walking areas of Ocean Drive and Cliff Walk, where its famous mansions and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean are on display. Newport residents enjoy access to many annual events such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Newport International Boat Show, and Newport Oyster Festival. Should you crave the bustle of city life, Boston is less than a two hour’s drive away.
As of October 2025, the average apartment rent in Newport, RI is $1,681 for one bedroom, $2,084 for two bedrooms, and $2,199 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Newport has increased by 7.7% in the past year.
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Thinking about moving to Rhode Island but don’t know where to start? Explore our comprehensive guide to five of Rhode Island’s best cities.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Some Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Public
Grades 5-8
546 Students
Public
Grades PK-4
697 Students
Public
Grades 5-8
546 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
633 Students
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.