Best 5 Coziest Small Towns in Rhode Island – To Visit This Winter [New Study]

It’s the time of year when we’re layering on sweaters and blankets, and to celebrate the winter season, the dating reviews website MyDatingAdviser.com has ranked the coziest small towns in the USA.

These Rhode Island towns are considered the coziest: Block Island (ranked No. 49 coziest in the nation), Watch Hill (54th), Little Compton (55th), Bristol (106), and Westerly (110).

To determine the coziest small towns in America, MyDatingAdviser compared 170 well-known small towns across the country on ten key metrics.

They looked into winter temperature, average snowfall, cafes, bakeries, crafts, and bookshops, among other indicators of a cozy small town. By analyzing the data points, each town has been given a ‘Cozy Town Index Score,’ representing the level of coziness you might experience in that small town.

If you’re in the mood for cozy towns to get into the winter spirit, here are some of the best small towns across the country to visit for some serious winter comfort.

Here are the 5 coziest towns in Rhode Island: 

1. Block Island

A one-hour ferry from mainland Rhode Island, Block Island is a New England getaway, complete with lighthouses, seagrass-lined beaches, and 30 miles of hiking trails. The island’s only town, New Shoreham, is filled with boutiques and restaurants. Spend the rest of your time at Block Island Beach House. With its floral wallpapers, decorative surfboards, white-washed rooms, and rentable bikes.

• Rank: #49 out of 170 cities

• Average Winter Temperature: 36.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 20 inches, Days Below Freezing: 92.2

1. Watch Hill

Formerly a seaside destination for wealthy city dwellers, Watch Hill regained popularity when Taylor Swift made a home purchase and put the secret vacation destination back on the map. The peninsula town offers miles of beaches, oceanfront hotels, art galleries, restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques, all just across the border from Connecticut. Fun fact: The Watch Hill Inn is the only Five-Diamond hotel in Rhode Island and has hosted celebrities.

• Rank: #54 out of 170 cities

• Average Winter Temperature: 36.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 27 inches, Days Below Freezing: 107

1. Little Compton

Sitting on the banks of the scenic Sakonnet River, Little Compton is marked by its historic homes with water views. Pro tip: Visit in the fall for fantastic foliage without the crowds. Fun fact: Rhode Island’s state bird, the Rhode Island Red, was first bred here.

• Rank: #55 out of 170 cities

• Average Winter Temperature: 37 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 32 inches, Days Below Freezing: 128

1. Bristol

A classic New England getaway. A small waterfront Rhode Island town between Providence and Newport, Bristol has a strong nautical heritage and is home to America’s Cup Hall of Fame. The picture-perfect locale also boasts the country’s oldest Fourth of July celebration, and the traffic lines on one of the main streets are painted red-white-and-blue.

• Rank: #106 out of 170 cities

• Average Winter Temperature: 38 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 32.3 inches, Days Below Freezing: 106.3

1. Westerly

Westerly is conveniently located to the Aquarium at Mystic and the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos. Nearby, the picturesque village of Watch Hill features ocean views, ice cream shops, and craft boutiques. Where to eat: Best known for its legendary breakfast, The Cooked Goose is a private estate-turned-B&B with a heated pool, hot tub, koi pond, gazebo, and an ideal location near Misquamicut State Beach.

• Rank: #110 out of 170 cities

• Average Winter Temperature: 36.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 27 inches, Days Below Freezing: 108.3

Find the 20 coziest small towns in the USA:

1. Stockholm, Wisconsin

2. Stowe, Vermont

3. Stanley, Idaho

4. Ellicottville, New York

5. Breckenridge, Colorado

6. Medora, North Dakota

7. Lake Placid, New York

8. Keystone, South Dakota

9. Mackinac Island, Michigan

10. Lake George, New York

11. Deadwood, South Dakota

12. Leadville, Colorado

13. Silverton, Colorado

14. Saugatuck, Michigan

15. Leavenworth, Washington

16. Kohler, Wisconsin

17. Telluride, Colorado

18. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

19. Talkeetna, Alaska

20. Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin