Discover the Safest Cities in Rhode Island: A Complete Guide

Although Rhode Island is small as a state, its safety is among the best in the U.S., especially in its small towns and suburbs. The strength of community ties and good policing in many cities in Rhode Island gives the state an attraction as a place to live. In this article we explore the safest cities in Rhode Island and the crime rates here.

Is Rhode Island Safe?

Rhode Island is right up there as one of the safer states in the country with a consistently low crime rate. A variety of smaller population centers including strong community involvement as well as effective law enforcement benefit the state. As a result, Rhode Island’s violent crime and property crime both rank below the state average. In fact, for property crime, it is the 5th lowest in the whole USA.

Top 5 Safest Cities in Rhode Island

Below are the safest cities in Rhode Island that you may consider moving to:

1. Bristol

Bristol has a beautiful waterfront and an excellent community feel. With 0.5 incidents per 1,000 people for violent crime and 3.2 per 1,000 for property crime. Bristol is one of the safest places in Rhode Island thanks in large part to active neighborhood programs and efficient law enforcement.

2. South Kingstown

South Kingstown is a family-friendly place everyone can live in. The violent crime rate here is 0.5 and the property crime rate is 4.5 per 1,000 residents. The city subsidizes public safety programs and community outreach so that it remains a neighborhood free of crime.

3. Cumberland

There's a mix of suburban charm and security in Cumberland. Here the violent crime rate is 0.5 incidents per 1,000 residents and property crime is 5.8 per 1,000. Cumberland has benefited from its proactive approach to public safety keeping the city as a safe city.

4. North Kingstown

North Kingstown is a haven for the beauty of its coastal location and tight-knit community. Both violent and property crime in the city is 1.0 incidents per 1,000 residents and 6.2 per 1,000 respectively. Its safety is contributed mostly by local policing strategies as well as community programs.

5. East Providence

East Providence is urban with amenities and a small town safe. There are 0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 and 8.7 property crimes per 1,000 residents. This makes its residents feel safe that what the police are doing is to only prevent crime.

Source: SafeWise

Crime Rate in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s rate for violent crime is rare, at just 2.0 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national rate of 4.0 per 1,000. Violent crime tends to be assaults, and homicide incidents are rare. Providence and Woonsocket make urban areas more prone to violent crime.

While Rhode Island has a higher rate of incidents per 1,000 residents (13.1) than the national average (20.7), property crime is more of a concern. The most reported incidents are burglaries, vehicle theft, and vandalism. People living in big cities are more attentive to this issue than people living in small towns.

For the most part, the small towns and suburban areas of Rhode Island have helped put the state on the list of safe states. However, in Providence and Pawtucket, the crime rates are higher, and they're being actively addressed by local law enforcement and community programs.

What Crime Are Rhode Island Residents Concerned About Most?

Overall, Rhode Islanders worry about property crimes and package theft, which are far and away the top issues there, but it's far below national averages.

Violent Crime

Overall, the safety of Rhode Islanders feels comfortable from a national average. About 48% of people are concerned over violent crime, which is down from the national average of 50%. Less than 41% of residents are concerned with gun violence, compared to the national average of 51%.

Property Crime

At a national average of 52%, Rhode Island residents are only slightly more concerned about property crime than 43%. Averaging out just slightly below the national average, 49 percent of residents report being concerned about package theft, compared to 53 percent nationally.

5 Most Dangerous Cities in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is generally a pretty safe state, but even then, some cities register higher crime rates, mostly in urban centers.

1. Providence

The highest in violent crime is the capital and largest city Providence, where there are 4.9 incidents for every 1,000 residents and 30.1 incidents per 1,000 properties. Being a hub of both these things, the economy, and culture with gang activity and theft in certain neighborhoods it faces.

2. Pawtucket

Pawtucket has a violent crime rate of 4.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, and property crime at 22.7 per 1,000. The city takes crime fighting seriously through proactive community policing and a strong public safety program.

3. Woonsocket

Per 1000 residents' violent crime is at a rate of 5.6 and property crime is at a rate of 20.7. However, economic problems make for higher crime, and local programs strive to reduce safety.

4. New Shoreham

Though relatively small and in the business of tourism that is seasonal, New Shoreham is not free from violent crime with a rate of 2.9 incidents per 1,000 residents and property crime at 22.2 per 1000. Peak tourist seasons bring the visitors, and strain local law enforcement.

5. Newport

Newport's historic mansions and seaside beauty help hide a violent crime rate of 2.7 incidents per 1000 and property crime at 21.8 per 1,000. During tourist seasons, it is facing challenges regarding property crimes.

How to Stay Safe in Rhode Island?

Even if you live in Rhode Island, adopting good safety practices can help protect your family and your property.

• Install Security Cameras and look for features like motion detection, real-time alerts, and night vision. These are now available with modern security solutions such as the Duo 3 Wi-Fi Security Camera.
• Whether in your home or outside, always keep your valuable items protected or even better keep them hidden from outsiders.
• Keeping a guard dog will help keep intruders away from your home.
• Having firearm with you for protection will give an additional layer of security and peace of mind.
  
  

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FAQs

1. What is the Safest Part of Rhode Island?

Since it has a low crime rate of 0.5 and a property crime rate of 3.2, Bristol is usually considered to be the safest city in Rhode Island.

2. What Are the 3 Major Cities in Rhode Island?

Providence, Warwick, and Cranston are Rhode Island's three major cities. These are economic and cultural centers, but they may have higher crime rates than little towns.

Conclusion

The crime rates in Rhode Island are on the lower side when compared with national averages. Unlike the safest cities in Rhode Island, cities like Providence and Pawtucket have obstacles, but towns like Bristol and South Kingstown have secure places for families and individuals. Residents can also be more safety by adopting a preventive measure of installing security cameras and joining the community programs.