55+ communities in Rhode Island
How age-restricted housing works, the main types, where the communities are, and what to check before you buy. When you are ready, we will send you every 55+ home on the market that fits.
The three kinds of 55+ housing in Rhode Island
They look similar in a listing, but you own something different in each one, and the monthly costs work differently.
Age-restricted condo and townhome communities
The most common type in Rhode Island. You own your home, an association handles the exterior, the grounds, and the snow, and you pay a monthly fee. Many are built around single-level living with a first-floor primary suite.
Cooperatives and independent living
You buy shares in a cooperative instead of a deed to a unit, or you rent. Monthly fees are higher because they often bundle services like utilities, security, and some meals. Laurelmead, on the East Side of Providence, is the best-known 55+ cooperative in the state.
55+ manufactured home communities
You own the home and lease the land under it. Purchase prices are the lowest of any option, but you pay monthly lot rent, and financing works differently than a regular mortgage.
55+ communities by town
South County has the most, followed by Newport County. Most homes in these communities sell as resales, so the right one may not be listed the week you start looking.
South Shore Village
South Kingstown
About 300 single-family homes; new construction and resale
The Villages on Mount Hope Bay
Tiverton
Gated waterfront community of about 230 attached homes and condos
Wakefield Meadows
Wakefield (South Kingstown)
About 140 attached homes; resale
Southwinds
South Kingstown
About 70 attached homes; resale
Brandywyne
South Kingstown
About 37 attached homes; resale
Brookedge Village
South Kingstown
About 28 condos; resale
Bay Ridge
Middletown
Gated, about 60 attached homes; resale
Bailey Brook
Middletown
About 36 attached homes; resale
Bella Vista
Glocester
About 70 attached homes; resale
Laurelmead
Providence (East Side)
55+ cooperative with studios, one and two bedrooms
Home counts are approximate and based on public community directories. Communities update their rules and add phases, so confirm details with each association.
55+ homes for sale right now
The 12 newest of 39 homes listed in age-restricted communities. Ask us for the full list.
8 Princess Avenue
Attleboro, MA 02703
Residential
65 Mockingbird Lane
Tiverton, RI 02878
Residential
20 Healey Brook Court
South Kingstown, RI 02879
Residential
43 Academy Avenue
Bristol, RI 02809
Residential
29 Cantaberry Lane
Coventry, RI 02816
Residential
355 Blackstone Boulevard #330
Providence, RI 02906
Residential
57 Topsail Drive
Tiverton, RI 02878
Residential
137 Lark Lane
Tiverton, RI 02878
Residential
24 Hackman Place
Warwick, RI 02889
Residential
67 Longview Drive
Cranston, RI 02920
Residential
30 Fox Run Road
Blackstone, MA 01504
Residential
6 Five Elms Circle
Coventry, RI 02916
Residential55+ status is reported by the listing agent; confirm age rules with the association. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Listing information is provided by the State-Wide Multiple Listing Service.
What to check before you make an offer
- Read the age rules in the declaration or bylaws. Can a younger spouse, partner, or caregiver live with you? Can adult children stay for long visits?
- Ask for the monthly fee history and the reserve study. A fee that has not moved in years can mean a special assessment is coming.
- Find out exactly what the fee covers: exterior, roof, landscaping, snow, trash, water, insurance on the building.
- Check rental rules if you might rent the home later. Many 55+ associations restrict or ban rentals.
- Ask how many homes have sold in the last year and how long they took. Resale buyers are limited to the 55+ market.
- Ask your town assessor about senior property tax exemptions or freezes. Rhode Island towns set their own, and the amounts differ a lot.
Selling a larger home to make the move?
Many 55+ buyers are selling at the same time. We can line up both sides so you are not carrying two homes or moving twice.
See what your home is worthCommon questions
What makes a community legally 55 and older?+
Under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act, a community can limit residents by age if it is intended and operated for people 55 or older and at least 80 percent of occupied units have at least one resident who is 55 or older. The community also has to publish its age policy and verify ages. Rhode Island fair housing rules use the same 80 percent test.
Can someone under 55 live in a 55+ community?+
Often yes, within limits. Because only 80 percent of units need a resident 55 or older, many communities allow a younger spouse or partner, and some allow a limited number of younger owners. Each community sets its own rules in its governing documents, so read them before you make an offer.
Where are most 55+ communities in Rhode Island?+
The largest concentration of age-restricted communities is in South County, especially South Kingstown, followed by Newport County (Middletown and Tiverton). There are fewer in the Providence area, where most options are cooperatives, independent living, or smaller condo associations.
Do 55+ communities have HOA fees?+
Almost all of them do. The monthly fee usually covers exterior maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, and shared amenities. Cooperatives and independent living communities charge more because the fee can include taxes, utilities, and services.
Can I use a regular mortgage to buy in a 55+ community?+
For deeded condos, townhomes, and single-family homes, yes. Cooperatives use share loans, and manufactured homes on leased land often need chattel or specialty financing, so talk to a lender who has done these before you shop.
Get the current 55+ homes for sale
Tell us the towns and the budget you have in mind. We will send what is on the market now and let you know as soon as something new comes up.
Prefer to talk? Call (833) 382-8224.