Those who live and work in Warwick already know there’s a lot that makes this seaside city so special: 39 miles of breathtaking coastline, a rich and unique history, great municipal services, and good schools. The city is also known for its diverse commercial base comprised of locally-owned small businesses, regional and national companies, and its convenient access to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, the intermodal commuter rail, and highways. Add to that more than a dozen non-profit organizations that work to meet the varying needs within the community, active neighborhood and civic organizations, along with a growing arts community and terrific seasonal events, and it’s easy to see why Warwick was recently named to Livability.com’s 2022 Top 100 Best Places To Live in the United States list.
Livability.com notes that it’s one of the leading online resources for those researching municipalities throughout the country. For nearly three decades, they’ve been in the business of examining cities, with a special focus on small- to mid-size, and helping them to showcase why their communities are a great choice for residents and businesses to call home.
This year’s survey saw Warwick “outpacing more than 2,300 cities with populations between 20,000 and one million,” Livability.com says. Rankings were determined on an assessment of more than 50 data points within the categories of transportation and infrastructure, education, housing, economy, amenities, demographics, social and civic capital, and health care. As part of their analysis, Livability culls data from a lengthy and diverse range of public and private entities, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Federal Aviation Administration, Esri, GreatSchools, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.
In its description of Warwick, Livability noted that a draw for area companies is Warwick’s location, making two-thirds of New England’s population accessible with a 75-mile radius. The city’s numerous retail and recreational offerings are also part of the allure; Goddard Memorial State Park, boasting a golf course, game fields, horseback riding, 18 miles of bridle trails, saltwater fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, picnic areas, and concert space within its 490 acres, was among the amenities highlighted in the report. The analysis also noted that Warwick has a low crime rate, above-average environmental health, a lower-than-national-average median home value, and widespread access to high-speed internet service, making it an ideal place for remote workers to call home. For the full report, visit: https://livability.com/best-places/2022-top-100-best-places-to-live-in-the-us/.
Of course, any city or town’s strongest and best asset is its people, and Warwick has long been known for its sense of community. Although it has a population of roughly 82,000, Warwick has the close-knit feel of a much smaller place, where residents and the business community come together in times of crisis, rally support for those in need, rejoice in others’ happy moments and milestones, and gather to celebrate community events.
In June, spectators and participants in The Great Race’s inaugural Rhode Island run saw this strong sense of community firsthand, when thousands of residents lined Warwick’s streets and converged at Rocky Point State Park to cheer on the drivers and navigators who were motoring 120 antique automobiles from Warwick and then through 19 cities en route to the finish line in Fargo, North Dakota. The hospitality and enthusiasm demonstrated by Warwick’s residents and businesses earned the city the “Best Overnight City” award from race organizers.
It’s very gratifying for the community to be recognized in these ways. If you’d like to learn more about all that Warwick offers for residents and businesses alike, log onto warwickri.gov or visitwarwickri.com, email [email protected], or call (401) 738-2014 to speak with someone in the Tourism or Economic Development Departments. Or come for a visit and see for yourself why our city is one of the nation’s best!
Frank Picozzi is the mayor of the city of Warwick, R.I.