Last Updated on: 27th March 2023, 02:43 pm
South Kingstown is a town in, and the county seat of, Washing County in Rhode Island. Just 33 minutes south from Warwick, South Kingstown is known to be one of the best places to live in Rhode Island thanks to its highly rated public schools, safe environment, and lively atmosphere. The town of South Kingstown was formed in 1722 when the original Kings Towne was split in two parts with the other being North Kingstown. The city is now one of the largest areas in Rhode Island and is made up of several unique villages. South Kingstown is known for its numerous outdoor adventures, including beach hopping, hiking beautiful trails, and visiting local music venues. Notable people from South Kingstown include author Jhumpa Lahiri and American Idol finalist Erika Van Pelt.
South Kingstown, RI Population & Demographics
The population of South Kingstown is 30,650 people. Females make up 51.7% of South Kingstown’s population and males make up 48.3%. South Kingstown’s racial demographics are 78.9% White, 6.34% Hispanic, 4.25% African American, 3.27% Asian, and 1.95% other races. The median age in South Kingstown is 36.3. The average family size in a household in South Kingstown is 3. Whether you live with others or are alone, everyone wants to feel safe in their community. Luckily, South Kingstown’s crime rates are 48% lower than the national average, making this a very safe place to live. The South Kingstown Police Department has 53 officers that are assigned a variety of duties to guarantee the security of the city.
South Kingstown Cost of Living
Affordability is typically a big factor in someone’s decision to move. Unfortunately, South Kingstown isn’t the most affordable place to live in Rhode Island. The cost of living in South Kingstown is 40% more expensive to live than the rest of Rhode Island and 63% higher than the national average. This is mainly due to South Kingstown’s expensive housing market. Transportation in South Kingstown is 5% less expensive than the Rhode Island average, and utilities are 1% less compared to the rest of the state. Groceries in South Kingstown are a bit pricey with a 1% increase from the Rhode Island average. However most residents are making enough money to pay for those high prices, thanks to the city’s increasingly low poverty rate.
The home ownership rate in South Kingstown is 77.7%, so the majority of residents plan on staying in the city for a while. South Kingstown’s housing market is considered to be very competitive with homes being sold within 19 days and for about 4% higher than the original asking price! The median cost of a home in South Kingstown is $495,000 or $302 per square foot. If you’re planning on moving to South Kingstown, now is the perfect time to buy one of the many homes for sale in South Kingstown before prices continue to rise! Check out the current house listings in South Kingstown, RI here.
If you’re planning on renting in South Kingstown, you can anticipate paying around $1,970 for a 970 square foot apartment. The rent trends in South Kingstown are projected to increase by 13%.
South Kingstown, RI Neighborhoods
South Kingstown is made up of several unique villages that are viewed to be the different “neighborhoods” of South Kingstown. The most popular neighborhoods in South Kingstown are Kingston, Wakefield, Matunuck, and Peacedale. Kingston is considered to be the best place to live in Washington County due to its active nightlife and fun environment. The University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, so the village has many young adults living in the area. Wakefield is the commercial center of South Kingstown and has many small businesses throughout the area. The Theatre by the Sea is located in Wakefield, which brings many visitors to the area. Matunuck is most popular for its proximity to the beach, bringing many young families to the area each weekend. Matunuck is made up of smaller homes that are loosely knitted throughout the village. Peace Dale contains the historic core of South Kingstown and has many older homes in the area. Many families reside here since there are bigger homes in this village and the schools are close by for young kids. South Kingstown also has convenient shopping at Dale Carlia Shopping Center.
South Kingstown, RI Weather
The New England states are notorious for having strong weather, so South Kingstown is pretty lucky for having a much milder climate than its neighbors. The summers in South Kingstown are pleasant and warm with an average high temperature of 80°F and low temperature of 68°F. Meanwhile, South Kingstown’s winters are very cold and windy with highs of 40°F and lows of 27°F. The city is fairly wet year round with 52 inches of rain and 30 inches of snow – both higher than the national average. Don’t let that get you down though since South Kingstown still has an average of 206 sunny days, which is also higher than the nation’s average!
Things to Do in South Kingstown
There are plenty of fun activities in South Kingstown, including:
East Matunuck State Beach
View this post on Instagram
This state beach is one of the top attractions in South Kingstown since it is a quick drive to the coast where you can swim, surf, and play a variety of different games in the ocean and sand! Whether you’re looking for an escape to some alone time or need to get your kids out, East Matunuck beach is the perfect place to go on a sunny day!
950 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, RI 02879, (401) 789-8374
The Farmer’s Daughter
The Farmer’s Daughter is a sustainability minded garden center that features various landcare displays, a produce market, and gift shop. Many residents love to come here on a Saturday afternoon to walk around and see the beautiful scenery and unique products they sell!
716 Mooresfield Rd, South Kingstown, RI 02879, (401) 792-1340
Additional Things to do in and around South Kingstown
South Kingstown has 27 parks that residents love to visit! Learn more about them on the South Kingstown Parks & Recreation site.
South Kingstown Restaurants
We’ve discovered the most popular restaurants in South Kingstown for you to try out below:
Two Ten Oyster Bar & Grill
View this post on Instagram
This restaurant serves local oysters and upmarket seafood dishes in an airy bayside marble bar and deck! With an excellent environment and even better service, there is no wonder why South Kingstown residents rave about this place!
210 Salt Pond Rd, South Kingstown, RI 02879, (401) 782-0106
Cantina del Rio
Craving some real Mexican food? If so, you’ll want to stop by Cantina del Rio to get your fix! This local restaurant serves authentic and fresh dishes, including chicken enchilada soup, quesadillas, supreme nachos, burritos, and more!
515 Kingstown Rd, South Kingstown, RI 02879, (401) 783-1910
Map of South Kingstown, RI
Uncover the many hidden gems of the city by checking out this South Kingstown map!
South Kingstown Statistics & Information
South Kingstown is located in Washington County. The area code for South Kingstown is 401. South Kingstown’s zip codes are 02874, 02879, 02880, 02881, 02882, 02883, and 02892. South Kingstown has a low elevation of 98 feet. The time zone for South Kingstown is Eastern Daylight time. South Kingstown is 79.77 square miles in area.
Jobs in South Kingstown, RI
The median household income in South Kingstown is $80,407. South Kingstown’s job market has grown by 1.5% over the past year and has a low unemployment rate of 5.7%. If you’re interested in living in South Kingstown, it’s good to know what your typical commute will look like. Many South Kingstown residents have a short commute time of 15.1 minutes, which is about 10 minutes less than the normal US worker. Meanwhile, some residents have to travel a bit further to bigger cities like Warwick for various job opportunities. If you’re looking to find employment in Warwick, you can click here for directions from South Kingstown, RI to Warwick, RI, which is 35 minutes away.
Are you looking for different job opportunities in South Kingstown? Check out the current job positions available in South Kingstown on Indeed.com.
Schools in South Kingstown, RI
You may wonder if your kids will have access to a good education in South Kingstown, and you can be rest assured that South Kingstown has some of the best schools in the state. The most popular schools in South Kingstown are South Kingstown High School, Broad Rock Middle School, Curtis Corner Middle School, and Peace Dale Elementary School. There are also plenty of great private schools in the South Kingstown area, including South Kingstown Integrated Pre-School, The Prout School, and Immaculate Conception Academy. Many students like to visit the free South Kingstown public library: Peace Dale Library to substitute their learning.
Living in South Kingstown Pros & Cons
- Pro: Several fun activities woven throughout the city
- Pro: Unique villages to reside in
- Con: Cost of living is high
Has South Kingstown convinced you this is the place you need to be? If you’re moving to South Kingstown, you’ll want to contact our leading South Kingstown moving company to help you settle in! Call Correira Bros today at 401-648-6683 for a free quote on all your relocation needs!
