East Woonsocket

Familiarity and food are all at your fingertips in East Woonsocket. “This part of the city is very friendly,” says Dottie Goulet, a Realtor with CrossRoads Real Estate Group and a Woonsocket resident. “There are some great little restaurants to walk to. People become regulars, and you get that small-town New England feel.” This region of the Rhode Island city also has plenty of nearby shopping, schools and recreation, adding a convenient, suburban element to its close-knit appeal.

Despite their turn-of-the-century charm, houses in East Woonsocket were constructed throughout the 1950s. Find three-bedroom Cape Cod Cottages, quaint bungalows and larger Prairie-style homes. You’ll also see more traditional midcentury designs, like modest ranch styles and split levels with low-sloping asymmetrical roofs. No matter the style, houses here typically have one-car garages or private driveways. They also cost between $350,000 and $500,000, a range similar to a Rhode Island home’s average $450,000 selling price. “There are several multi-family homes in the area, so there’s a pretty even mix of renters and buyers,” says Goulet.

Residents will find a variety of locally owned eateries mere minutes from their front door. For instance, Patriots Diner is along Founders Drive, and the retro-style restaurant serves all-day breakfast classics, like sausage gravy and biscuits with home fries. Elm Street Pizza is a family owned joint known for its classic Italian grinders and specialty pies. Head to Krakow when you’re in the mood for a sweet treat. The bakery has Polish pastries, fresh bread and handmade pierogis. The Dowling Village shopping center is less than 4 miles from East Woonsocket. Grab groceries from Aldi or the Walmart Supercenter. Pick up dog food at PetSmart, get a new outfit at Kohl’s or work out at Planet Fitness.

Children in East Woonsocket can attend Leo A. Savoie Elementary, which has an overall C-minus grade from Niche. Then, they may go to Villanova Middle School. In addition to its overall C grade from Niche, the school names each homeroom after an East Coast college, like Brown University or Princeton. Then, they may attend Woonsocket High School, which has a C in academics from Niche. Students can join one of the five pathway programs to earn relevant career experience and industry certification if applicable. One pathway is in criminal justice, where students take classes in cybersecurity, sociology and forensics.

East Woonsocket is sprinkled with several recreational hubs. Go to Cass Park, where you can shoot hoops on the basketball court, hit a home run on the baseball diamond or run around the cross-country track. Follow the paved path to a small pond, which hosts the annual Woonsocket Fishing Derby for children every spring. Bissonette Field has the city’s only cricket pitch and plenty of wide-open green space for dogs to run wild. Join the New England Country Club less than 1 mile from the area. Since 1909, this 18-hole championship golf course has been a regional go-to for its rolling hills and tree-lined fairway, transforming into stunning fall colors as autumn rolls around. Considering this seasonal beauty, Woonsocket celebrates the AutumnFest at the World War II Memorial Park every Columbus Day weekend. The green space is 2 miles from East Woonsocket. Attendees can listen to local cover bands, view the parade and play carnival games.

“Woonsocket is right at the border of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and that makes getting to Providence or Boston easy,” says Goulet. The area is less than 10 miles from Interstate 295, and another 5-mile drive south on the highway leads to Providence. Residents can also reach Boston via a 40-mile drive north on Interstate 90, 10 miles from the area. There are also several Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus stops dotted along Cass Avenue at the region’s core.

Written By

Meghan Baker

Photography Contributed By

Pushparaj Aitwal

Video By

Reuben Davis