True Cost of Renting in Pawtucket, RI

Pawtucket immediately borders Providence to the north and was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution (Slater Mill, 1793). The Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A baseball) play at McCoy Stadium. Rents run 20–25% below Providence, making it a value alternative for workers at Providence's major hospitals and universities. National Grid provides electricity.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Woodlawn / Oak Hill

Studio:
$900/mo
1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,600/mo

More stable residential neighborhoods in Pawtucket; mix of apartment buildings and converted triple-deckers. National Grid electric. RIPTA bus access to Providence. I-95 access for regional commutes. Good value for Brown/RISD and hospital workers.

Central Falls (adjacent)

Studio:
$750/mo
1 Bed:
$950/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

Separate small city immediately west of Pawtucket; one of the most affordable communities in Rhode Island. Dense Latino community with authentic restaurants. Very close to Providence. Research specific block conditions.

Downtown Pawtucket

Studio:
$800/mo
1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,500/mo

City center near the revitalized arts district and Slater Mill; some new apartment development in former mills. RIPTA access to Providence. Improving steadily since 2015 arts district designation.

Utility Providers

Electric
National Grid Rhode Island
Water
Pawtucket Water Supply Board
Internet
Cox Communications, Verizon, Starry Internet

Commute & Transportation

Pawtucket is immediately adjacent to Providence — the commute to Downtown Providence by RIPTA bus is 15–20 minutes, making it effectively an inner neighborhood for Providence workers. I-95 connects south to Providence (5 miles) and north toward Boston. Major employers in the Providence metro accessible from Pawtucket: Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital, Brown University, and RISD. Pawtucket's own employers include Hasbro (headquartered in Pawtucket) and Lifespan.

Rental Market Overview

Pawtucket is genuinely 10 minutes from Providence by bus but with notably lower rents — a value that isn't widely known outside Rhode Island. National Grid electric rates apply at the same high RI rates. The arts district redevelopment has gentrified slowly but consistently. Central Falls is even more affordable but requires more neighborhood research. Renters insurance averages $15–20/month. Rhode Island has no state-level rent control, so annual increases across all three neighborhoods above follow the open market rather than a legal cap. Hasbro headquartered here means Pawtucket has one genuinely large, stable corporate employer of its own, distinct from the hospital and university jobs that anchor most of the rest of the Providence metro.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Pawtucket

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Pawtucket: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Pawtucket?
One-bedroom apartments in Pawtucket range from $950/month in Central Falls (adjacent) to $1,100/month in Woodlawn / Oak Hill. Two-bedroom units range from $1,400 to $1,600/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Pawtucket?
In Pawtucket, electricity is provided by National Grid Rhode Island, water by Pawtucket Water Supply Board, and common internet providers include Cox Communications, Verizon, Starry Internet. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Pawtucket.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Pawtucket?
Central Falls (adjacent) is the most affordable of the 3 Pawtucket neighborhoods covered here, at $950/month for a one-bedroom — $150 less than Woodlawn / Oak Hill, roughly a 14% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Pawtucket expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Pawtucket runs about $1,017/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Pawtucket is genuinely 10 minutes from Providence by bus but with notably lower rents — a value that isn't widely known outside Rhode Island. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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