The City of Warwick, Rhode Island was founded in 1642 as the settlement of Shawomet, established as a haven for religious freedom, a bastion of tolerance and a settlement of grace, wisdom, and dignity. It was incorporated as a City in 1931.
Centrally located in the heart of southern New England, Warwick offers the convenience of City living with a close-knit, small town feel and myriad economic development opportunities within its diverse commercial base. Warwick is comprised of more than 30 villages that reflect our community’s early history and each have their own unique place in our shared heritage.
With close proximity to Interstates 95 and 295, more marinas and moorings than any Rhode Island community, access to public bus transportation, and as home to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport and the InterLink intermodal train station with MBTA commuter rail service, Warwick is one of the state’s most easily accessible communities.
Warwick offers a diverse economy, with a large retail and service base, as well as a healthy mix of manufacturing. Its bustling Route 2 commercial corridor features a variety of national and regional businesses as well as locally-owned enterprises. A strong partnership with both the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration also helps the City to promote and support the many small businesses that call Warwick home.
Thanks to the many private and public universities and colleges throughout Rhode Island, employers can find a highly-educated, skilled labor pool within a 50-mile radius to meet the needs of high-tech, biotech, defense and manufacturing industries. Warwick is home to the Community of Rhode Island Knight Campus and a New England Institute of Technology campus. The cost of doing business here is also very favorable compared to other major cities in the region.
Those who wish to live and work in Warwick will find a diverse, affordable housing mix that offers single-family homes, high-quality condominiums and apartments in safe neighborhoods with exceptional schools. Salt- and fresh-water ponds, beaches, miles of biking and walking trails, ice rinks, pools, golf courses and playgrounds are among the many recreational opportunities available here.
Active non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations and faith and civic groups also add to the great qualify of life here. Ranked among the nation’s safest communities, with a nationally-accredited police department, Warwick has also been listed as one of the 100 best communities to live in the nation.
| At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Population | 83,011 |
| Total Land Area | 35 square miles |
| FY23 Budget (municipal and schools combined) | $341M |
| FY23 Tax Rates (All per $1,000 of assessment) | |
|---|---|
| Residential Real Estate | $18.73 |
| Commercial & Industrial Real Estate | $28.10 |
| Personal Property/Tangible | $37.46 |
| Motor Vehicle Tax (Eliminated in 2022) | $0.00 |
Other exemptions, including veterans, senior citizen, Gold Star, disabled, are offered to qualified residents. The Warwick Assessor’s Office has additional information. Rhode Island boasts some of the most aggressive employment and training tax credit programs in the nation. See incentives and initiatives for details.
| Hospitals Kent Memorial Hospital |
1 |
| Police Stations Main headquarters and Pontiac and Conimicut substations |
3 |
| Fire Stations | 10 |
| Airports Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) with InterLink intermodal station, offering commuter MBTA rail. |
1 |
| Hotels/Motels | 16 |
| Public/Private/Parochial/PreK/Elementary/Secondary Schools | 25+ |
| Libraries Sandy Lane main branch, Conimicut, Norwood and Apponaug branches |
4 |
| Museums | 3 |
| Golf Courses (public/private) | 5 |
| Municipal Senior Enrichment Center | 1 |
| Parks and Playgrounds
Including: City Park, featuring four softball fields, two dog parks, a soccer field, in-line hockey rink, a three-mile paved bicycle/walking path, playgrounds, saltwater beach, and sheltered picnic areas and open recreation areas. Rocky Point Park, featuring scenic views of Narragansett Bay, a shoreline walking/bike path, saltwater beach, hiking trails, handicapped-accessible fishing pier, and picnic areas. Goddard Park State Park, nearly 500 acres and includes a nine-hole golf course, an equestrian show area, 18 miles of bridle trails, 355 picnic tables, 11 game fields, and a performing arts center for weddings, concerts, picnics and special events, saltwater beach and rest rooms. Mickey Stevens Sports Complex, including the Thayer and Warburton ice arenas, McDermott swimming pool, therapeutic pool, tennis courts, baseball field, and a paved walking path. |
50+ |
| Coastline | 39 miles |
| Fresh and Saltwater beaches | 9 |
| Marinas/yacht clubs | 15 |
At a Glance
Population: 83,011
Total Land Area: 35 square miles
FY23 Budget (municipal and schools combined): $341M
FY23 Tax Rates (All per $1,000 of assessment)
Residential Real Estate: $18.73
Commercial & Industrial Real Estate: $28.10
Personal Property/Tangible: $37.46
Motor Vehicle Tax (Eliminated in 2022): $0.00
Other exemptions, including veterans, senior citizen, Gold Star, disabled, are offered to qualified residents. The Warwick Assessor’s Office has additional information. Rhode Island boasts some of the most aggressive employment and training tax credit programs in the nation. See incentives and initiatives for details.
Hospitals: 1
Kent Memorial Hospital
Police Stations: 3
Main headquarters and Pontiac and Conimicut substations
Fire Stations: 10
Airports: 1
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) with InterLink intermodal station, offering commuter MBTA rail.
Hotels/Motels: 16
Public/Private/Parochial/PreK/Elementary/Secondary Schools: 25+
Libraries: 4
Sandy Lane main branch, Conimicut, Norwood and Apponaug branches
Museums: 3
Golf Courses (public/private): 5
Municipal Senior Enrichment Center: 1
Parks and Playgrounds: 50+
Including;
City Park, featuring four softball fields, two dog parks, a soccer field, in-line hockey rink, a three-mile paved bicycle/walking path, playgrounds, saltwater beach, and sheltered picnic areas and open recreation areas.
Rocky Point Park, featuring scenic views of Narragansett Bay, a shoreline walking/bike path, saltwater beach, hiking trails, handicapped-accessible fishing pier, and picnic areas.
Goddard Park State Park, nearly 500 acres and includes a nine-hole golf course, an equestrian show area, 18 miles of bridle trails, 355 picnic tables, 11 game fields, and a performing arts center for weddings, concerts, picnics and special events, saltwater beach and rest rooms.
Mickey Stevens Sports Complex, including the Thayer and Warburton ice arenas, McDermott swimming pool, therapeutic pool, tennis courts, baseball field, and a paved walking path.
Coastline: 39 miles
Fresh and Saltwater beaches: 9
Marinas/yacht clubs: 15
From other destinations:
Providence, RI: 10 minutes
Boston, MA: 1 hour
New York City: 3.5 hours
Newport, RI: 30 minutes
For additional community information on special events, activities, attractions, shopping, restaurants, accommodations and more, VisitWarwickRI.com.
Incentives
The Human Resource Investment Council and the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island, working with Warwick, provide qualified businesses with training grants and other programs that allow:
- Grants up to 50% of the cost, including trainees’ salaries
- Matching retraining grants, up to $30,000, for existing employees
- Assistance in receiving a matching grant of up to $10,000 for upgrading existing employee skills
- Assistance with tax credits of up to $5,000 per employee for 50% of approved training costs
The RIEDC publishes this summary of state and local business incentives as an information tool for the business community.
Download the complete list of business incentives or read about specific incentives
