Bristol vs East Greenwich vs Any others I should consider?

Submitted by Many-Froyo9699 t3_11vlspv in RhodeIsland

Hello all -

I currently live in Fairfield County Connecticut. We are interested in moving out of state as FFC is just becoming incredibly difficult to find a home in and also has exorbitant taxes (yes even relative to some of the areas I am inquiring about). When we moved to FFC a couple of years ago, it was from Manhattan and one of the key reasons we wanted to move was to leave the hamster wheel mentality behind and not worry about the joneses. Given everybody in NYC has seemingly left and come to FFC (or Florida), we think we did not go far enough. What used to be a solid high work ethic but pastoral life style is quickly becoming just another area for people to flash and flaunt. That said, enough about my dismay about FFC, here are some of the factors we are interested in:

  1. We spend a lot of time running, walking, hiking and enjoy dense greenscape and farmscape. We are generally targeting a property that is ~3 acres given we both enjoy gardening, landscaping and spending time outside. When we take vacations we typically we find a small cabin where we can hike or ski. We generally love New England and dont leave often. Most of our vacations are in Vermont / New England focused just to give you some context.

  2. At the same time, one thing we have found about FFC is that we have to drive literally everywhere. We drive to go for a run, we drive to get coffee, we drive to go for a walk. Having a larger property would help with this since we can meander onsite, but still it would be great having some nice walkability as well (we did spend a decade in lower Manhattan afterall) so we would really appreciate a charming downtown center, preferably something we can walk or bike to.

  3. We love spending time at the ocean and beach, but are not sunbathers. Any bit of water is nice to dip our feet into (e.g. rivers, brooks, ocean etc) and pursue a hobby like sailing around but we arent going to sunbathe 24/7. Some of the most attractive type of land to us is coastal farmland. We have seen there are areas like that around Rhode Island as well as New Hampshire (Rye / Portsmouth for instance) and would love to live in a home like that but its a balance against other factors like walkability/schools/occasional train rides to Boston or NYC.

  4. We have an older child in high school and a newborn (I had a child early on and my Wife and I just had our first together) so school districts do matter, but we are also flexible on private schools. However, we just arent built for the type of private schools that only 10% of kids get into and we have to politic for years in advance to get them into. My older son is into science and business and plays the cello but also struggles with certain LDs (e.g. Dyslexia) so if there were a program that has interesting niches but can also work with him that would be perfect so he can prepare for college and beyond.

  5. We have a 2-3 mm cash budget. For the right home (like HOLY SHIT 5-10 acres in a 10K square foot english tudor on the water with a beautiful sprawling lawn) we can flex higher with another 1-2 MM cash but this budget represents a reasonable budget that provides a lovely home and daily active lifestyle while still allows us passive freedom if we choose to take it (both still working right now - please dont hate I am self made and was poor most of my life and outside of our home we raise our kids very modestly and maintain a very low monthly budget and drive low end used hondas. I hate even mentioning this but I do think it is relevant for context here so people can provide best possible suggestions).

  6. We work but we are basically remote. We just prefer accessibility to the high speed trains that take you to boston or nyc for when we have to be in those areas.

  7. My wife and I are early / mid 30s so still have lots left in the tank.

We had been told to check out East Greenwich and Bristol based on these factors in Rhode Island. Based on the above what do you guys think would be a good fit for us between the two and why? Additionally, are there other places we should look into and why?

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Familiar_Ad1485 t1_jcuyhby wrote

East Greenwich > Bristol, hands down. Especially given your wants, there is literally no easily accessible highway anywhere near Bristol.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxzbf6 wrote

What makes it better so hands down? I don’t have a view so genuine question. Appreciate the feedback. Seems like EG is the “easy, sure thing” for us based on some feedback

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quahaug1945 t1_jcv2rwf wrote

People in Bristol are much less affected by their socioeconomic status and more down to Earth than many people in East Greenwich. Given the choice I'd take Bristol every time. I've spent my entire life in Rhode Island, I'm over 70, so I have a well developed opinion.

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devinmarieb t1_jcvdp4c wrote

Same. I’m not entirely sure of the inventory, but I do think there will be less choice in Bristol for homes with multiple acres. I like Bristol better in general, but E Greenwich probably has better inventory matching OP’s wants. Plus as someone else mentioned, Bristol is more isolated depending on how you want to enjoy the rest of the state and surrounding areas.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxy9t5 wrote

Yeah just based on Redfin looks like the options are normal homes and then a large leap to massive estates on the little peninsula there. Not seeing much in between. But will keep an eye out as inventory comes to market over the next couple of months.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxz03e wrote

I like this. Our goal with money is to achieve durable personal freedom (which is what we consider to be true wealth). We don’t believe in materialism at all but we do like the option of sitting in a nice cafe or occasionally going out for a nice bite to eat. We aren’t drinkers rather readers, homebodies and like to take up new hobbies from time to time (I worked on a regenerative farm for a few months recently and shortly after learned how to sail in a small sailboat for example). Is there something about the daily lifestyle outside of the people you prefer in Bristol vs EG such as the town?

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quahaug1945 t1_jczfet2 wrote

Bristol has a few coffee shops as I recall and there's very little focus on "conspicuous consumption" fro our experience. There are family owned and operated restaurants and little in the way of "chain restaurants" there. It's simply a community focused on community and not who owns what.

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WorkingSeason9208 t1_jcvgw6j wrote

I would also say West Greenwich

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxxj6p wrote

Is that just a woodsier / slightly further away area? Interesting will look

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Triello t1_jcv7ehy wrote

Also look at North Kingston. Easier to get to Kingston train station if thats important. East Greenwich or North Kingston on west Bay side. Barrington, Bristol for east bay side. Also possibly look at the Edgewood section of Cranston. Might be harder to find an available house there but a million times better connected to everything you are looking for.

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Pvdsuccess t1_jcvafqf wrote

RI schools are key. Most that can afford it move to the areas with the best schools.

Based on what you said, EG sounds like it covers the others along with the school part. You can hike in big river, bike, etc. Be at the marina area, too. It's all close. The western part sounds like it will fill the bill for land too.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxxoxe wrote

What’s the dividing line between west and east Greenwich? Yeah seems like it checks most boxes tbh. Hard to see what the downfalls are especially for me given I already live in higher tax area

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_jcuux8x wrote

Helpful to know your budget. Congrats on the financial success.

High speed train to both NYC and Boston, skiing, ocean, walkable, sailing, close-to-town-farmland: I know new england very well and I want to help but that’s a tough combo.

Like Camden Maine ticks off a lot of those boxes except accessibility to Boston/ NYC.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxzjqk wrote

Well I don’t plan on skiing in Rhode Island but the rest would be great and seems achievable. Nice thing about Rhode Island is that it’s even closer to NH/VT than where we are currently so cuts down on the diriving Tim to some of the closest real mountains

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Unusual_Letter61 t1_jcv0a6w wrote

Check out Newport Middletown and Portsmouth. Given you said schools are important that probably rules out Newport and would push you more towards Portsmouth.

Also look at barrington.

Train to NYC is easy from any of these towns, Boston driving is easier imo.

Fellow NYC transplant and New England native so happy to talk through our experience.

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Familiar_Ad1485 t1_jcv3m7l wrote

That’s not necessarily true. A train to NYC from Barrington requires driving into Providence and then good luck parking there. Same story from Bristol, not such an easy process getting to the train. From East Greenwich you have Kingston Station for trains to NYC or Boston, with an easy drive to the station & plentiful parking.

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listen_youse t1_jcvdazx wrote

Half hourly bus from Bristol and Barrington to PVD station so - driving not "required."

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Familiar_Ad1485 t1_jcvkp37 wrote

No offense, but I don’t think anyone wants to take a half hour bus ride into Providence before their 3 hour train ride. Especially if someone is looking for a house specifically to be close to a highway and train stations… when there’s plenty of more preferable options to recommend (i.e. Kingston Station).

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listen_youse t1_jcvmufy wrote

>I don’t think anyone wants to take a half hour bus ride into Providence

Ever tried it?

What makes a half hour bus ride so much worse than a 25 minute car ride plus finding and paying for days of parking?

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Familiar_Ad1485 t1_jcvruua wrote

Oh I don’t know… maybe the fact that you can get in your car & go when you’re ready, on easy nice backroads & your car will be ready to go when you arrive back. Versus being ready to go, then having to wait 15-25 minutes outside in the freezing cold for the bus… dealing with people coughing & sneezing all over you the whole way. Then when you arrive back on the train you better hope it coincides with the bus schedule, otherwise you’re waiting outside in the freezing cold in Kennedy Plaza (the gem of the state 🙄) for another half hour in the freezing cold with panhandlers & cigarette smokers surrounding you… only to Uber home because you’re bus never showed up.

Gee, I just can’t figure out why someone would recommend to someone looking to move to RI why an easy backroad drive to the train versus a hellish bus ride to Kennedy Plaza would be a preferred option.

Take a lap, your goofy ass makes no sense.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxz7l8 wrote

What are the logistics to train from there to NYC? How long does it take and how many transfers?

Middletown and Portsmouth both look very nice I was honestly just reluctant to sign up for challenging commutes (albeit infrequent) so that’s why I figured the islands would be harder

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Unusual_Letter61 t1_jczqrjt wrote

I’m near the border of Newport and Middletown and it’s a 30 minute drive to the Kingston train station where you can park for free and hop right on Amtrak. Depending where in Middletown Portsmouth the drive can be a little longer than that, particularly some parts of Portsmouth.

There’s an early 7am train out that I take pretty often, it’s great…until you have to walk through Penn Station haha

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jczssnd wrote

Ooph penn station…that’s not so bad. It won’t be all the time I need to go to NY so definitely doable. And Boston is also easy from there for a drive so have best of both worlds. I can look this up but do you happen to know if that Kingston station is the Acela or is it the slower Amtrak service?

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Unusual_Letter61 t1_jczynqu wrote

It’s the slow one. Providence is Acela, but the track regulations on speed and stops are so frequent that the Acela is like 20 minutes faster or something relatively insignificant.

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howsyourlife t1_jcv4eg6 wrote

Have to ask--how did you and your wife build up 3-5 million in cash reserves by your early-to-mid 30s?

The biggest issue is finding a place that is several acres in size but also walkable to local attractions or a city centre.

Barrington, East Greenwich, or towns in Washington County (Charlestown, Little Compton, SK/NK, Wickford) might have some of what you're looking for, but probably not all. If farmland is what you're biggest on maybe outside of Burlington VT would work too.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxy2p6 wrote

Patience, years of plotting a course in this direction, lots of long hours and ultimately carving out a niche that has paid off substantially over the past few years. Sorry don’t want to be too specific but if I can do it anybody can. Just zoom out and work backwards. Where do you want to be in ten years, what does it take to get there, and pluck away.

We love Vermont just can’t live there right now. Would love to one day live somewhere along the lake though.

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Newport-Series2a t1_jcy1hd7 wrote

Sounds like Newport East on Aquidneck Island is your spot. Under 5 minutes to beaches, under 10 to downtown Newport and plenty of farms and vineyards with lots of public access hiking and walking trails (e.g., Norman Bird Sanctuary). It’s about 35 minutes to the train in Kingston and T.F. Green and 1:30 minutes to Boston with traffic.

St George’s is right there and there are a few private schools on the Island.

Summers are unbeatable.

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barsoapguy t1_jcvvj84 wrote

I don’t care about your household budget but please please do not be driving ridiculously old used Hondas if you absolutely don’t have too.

Massive safety improvements for all cars after 2006 and certainly since 2015. I’m not saying you NEED to be driving a 2023 but if you’re gonna live out here with potholes , tight streets , tourists etc then you should make sure that the safety systems in your cars are up to modern standards.

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Quick_Tear_3600 t1_jcw4xv4 wrote

Bonnet shores and the South Kingstown area might be more in line with your wants. Most of the shoreline is heavily populated during the stretch from Memorial to Labor Day, so no avoiding the NYC vibe there. But I grew up in the area and the hiking, running, etc is great there. Plus you’re close to everything. You can opt for something closer to the ocean or move inland to any of the lake front properties or even more woodsy if you prefer.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxxdcg wrote

That sounds pretty nice. If you are in the woods probably less trafficked as well and seems very convenient to train access. What specific towns in these areas would you suggest?

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Quick_Tear_3600 t1_jcyyasw wrote

Bonnet Shores is a specific area within Narragansett. In South Kingstown there is Green Hill near the water or East Matunuck. Inland stretches past the University of Rhode Island so options are endless but the area near Worden Pond and Indian Lake give you the water access while keeping you off the tourist traffic routes.

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Sleuthiestofsleuths t1_jcwfcmj wrote

I'm going to throw Newport into the ring. Yep, public schools are bad, but we did private school and it was great. With your budget you can afford what you're looking for, and it's a great place to live. If you can find something near/around the Ocean Drive, you'd be in heaven. And scooters to get around town are super common because everything is so close. Middletown and Portsmouth are also great for acreage and close proximity to the water. They have better public schools, but less of a "downtown" and less activity than Newport.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxx9rz wrote

Interesting. The hang up with Newport is just getting ourselves right into another joneses situation, lack of directly accessible train routes and smaller lots. Sounds like a fun daily lifestyle though. When we were considering Portsmouth NH (before deciding it was just not convenient enough to NY) it had a similar vibe.

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Sleuthiestofsleuths t1_jczfcwx wrote

Ok, so I talked to a few friends about this and we all agree that Newport doesn't have the Joneses thing going on. I've lived here 20 years and have never felt it or seen it. Most of the wealthiest people here, you would never guess to look at them. Everyone co-mingles and the only try-hards you really see are people from out of town. 😂 Most Newporters are pretty comfortable with who they are and enjoying the casual lifestyle. And, I also love Portsmouth, NH!

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jczlgtz wrote

Thats great! Granted I have only been to newport once so I dont even know if this is a fair question, but how do you live your life around the busy, likely annoying tourist aspect? Is it the type of thing that when you are there you just know the local spots and so it doesnt impact you much or is it something you have to wrestle with over the summer and find obnoxious?

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Sleuthiestofsleuths t1_jd058wp wrote

Totally fair question! I don't find the tourists annoying at all. Every year I say the same thing - It's an awesome thing to live in a place people come from all-over the world to see. People are happy to be here and the energy is upbeat and fun. It's kind of like the town comes back to life. There are generally 2 types of people who come to Newport: those who have never been before, and those who come every year. Both types are happy to be here. There are definitely secret spots to grab a bite and a drink, but the more touristy places aren't tacky-cheap touristy, so we go to those too! There are always events happening, the history and architecture are remarkable, and Providence, Boston, and NY are easily accessible. I'm from Chicago, so needed to know I could get a city-fix easily when I moved here, and it's turned out to be the sweet spot of New England, for sure. Just today I went for a hike in Middletown, surrounded by the ocean, and I said, My God, we're lucky to live here! I say it on the regular, and it's genuine. Newport captured my heart the first time I crossed the bridge, and I recommend it 100%

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FartsOfGarlic t1_jcwfjxl wrote

Have you checked out Barrington? Middle of the east bay bike path, access to the bay which is meh for swimming but whatever. Great schools. Plot size is a bit trim depending on what's available but can probably find something up your alley. It's north of warren (the order on the east bay goses Providence - East Providence - Barrington - Warren - Bristol), so easy access to 114.

The downside is that to get into Providence and beyond at the moment, both bridges are under construction. But it's the same from Bristol anyway.

Your budget is - I'll say - healthy compared to others around here so Barrington should be within reach.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxx3xo wrote

Thanks, have not looked there will check it out. It sounds like E Greenwich / Kingston is generally more accessible by train to the bigger cities which may sway us in that direction though we may give up some benefits of acreage and peacefulness. P.S. your name immediately evoked phantom garlic fart aroma when I read it. Well played.

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QuinnHarbin t1_jcxxq8b wrote

Definitely look at Bristol (there's some nice eye candy in the form of a farmhouse for sale now)- down to earth people, great downtown, gorgeous conservation and coastline. Warren is a very nice town as well, but you won't find land. Bristol-Warren school district is not great for high school and SPED services, but there are good private options. St Andrews and Providence Country Day are wonderful, supportive private schools that offer services for LDs. And do not worry- getting into schools here is thankfully much easier than in NYC!

Barrington has great schools and walkable downtown area- there can be status conscious folks there. Tiverton and Little Compton are farther out, both gorgeous with small villages. On the West Bay, East Greenwich has a wonderful downtown, good schools. Like Barrington, you will run into some snobs. North and South Kingstown have sweet little villages like Wickford and Wakefield. Not sure about the schools in that area now. Rocky Hill is a wonderful private school with good support for LDs in that area.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcy153z wrote

They all sound pretty awesome to be honest which is part of the challenge of narrowing things down when you have to pick. Any suggestions? Seems like I’m on the right track with EG and Bristol but if you were me and you had to cut it off at top 3-4 places to consider what would they be?

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QuinnHarbin t1_jcz11sh wrote

Have you traveled around RI to check things out? That might be your next step. The towns have different vibes and you might like some more than others. The state is TINY, so it won't take long, lol.

Housing stock is low and places go fast. What you want is pretty particular, but it's possible if you are flexible with location. So, I would find a good RI broker to stay ahead of Zillow (but who doesn't love looking at zillow as well). You could focus, say, on East Greenwich, Barrington, Bristol to start, but let the broker know you would consider the right place in other towns. I left NYC because I missed New England (grew up on the North Shore of Ma, another lovely area). I ultimately chose Providence and love it, but I came close to living in Tiverton, Bristol and Wickford myself- they reminded me of home on the North Shore, MA.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jegrdbv wrote

We did this past week actually. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time in each area but found that for our style the most sensible option is going to be East Greenwich (or directly surrounding areas).

The reason we came to this conclusion:

  • E. Greenwich most resembles our current home in FFC. Lots of woods, charming town, schools (private and public), large lots, plenty of beautiful old homes
  • ease of access to both the train and the airport are important for us and not driving 45 minutes is going to make our living easier.
  • How we personally spend our daily lives is mostly homebodies, but when we want to strike out for our adventures 2-3 times per week we can given this is a very convenient home base to beaches, Jamestown, Newport etc.

Many of the other areas certainly had their charm but it felt like for us a lot of trade offs for our needs. Jamestown for instance is beautiful and has a lovely town, but smaller lots, less dense woods, not as convenient. Bristol / Barrington has lots to like but definitely less convenient for commuting to Boston/NYC and where our children will likely go to schools for instance.

So for us, despite everything having plenty to like, EG seems like the easiest pick that affords us the quaint life that we currently enjoy without going overboard as well as access to things to do given everything is so easy to drive to for a day trip. It was great to ponder the possibilities on a map but there really is no substitution for going there and that helped us choose pretty quickly.

To your point real estate in EG is pretty sparse, and I don’t want to minimize the expense, but we also are coming from an area that is SHOCKING even to us (lots of properties being relisted for double and triple pre Covid levels) so I at least take solace that we aren’t paying as crazy prices as we would otherwise have to here.

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Tenerina t1_jcvshgq wrote

Bristol has it all — nature, water access, walkability as well as some excellent restaurants.

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Many-Froyo9699 OP t1_jcxxhkf wrote

Why is this getting downvoted? Seems like a reasonable opinion. What are pros and cons vs e Greenwich?

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