Tree-lined streets, a 1909 parkway, and a college campus with a suburban feel inside the city.
By Junia Janvier, REALTOR® · Corcoran Chart House Realty · Updated October 2026
Elmhurst is one of Providence’s most owner-occupied neighborhoods, a mostly residential area of yards and driveways around Providence College and Pleasant Valley Parkway. This guide covers how farmland became a streetcar neighborhood, its streets and homes, what homes cost to buy and carry, and what to check before you make an offer.
Elmhurst is a mostly residential neighborhood in northwest Providence, bounded by Chalkstone Avenue to the south, Academy Avenue and Smith Street to the west, and Douglas Avenue and Admiral Street to the northeast. Through the 1700s and most of the 1800s it was farmland, crossed by roads such as today’s Douglas Avenue, Eaton Street, and Chalkstone Avenue that carried produce into the city.
A streetcar line reached the area in 1882, and homes followed. In 1909 the city acquired land along a stream and created Pleasant Valley Parkway, a landscaped boulevard modeled on Blackstone Boulevard on the East Side. In the early 1900s, Irish and Italian families moved here from crowded neighborhoods closer to downtown.
Institutions shaped Elmhurst too. Providence College, run by the Dominican Order, opened here in 1917 with a single building, Harkins Hall. La Salle Academy moved to the neighborhood in 1925, and Nathanael Greene Middle School, a yellow brick Tudor Gothic building, opened on Chalkstone Avenue in 1929. The area was also home to several hospitals, including the Homeopathic Hospital of Rhode Island, now Roger Williams Medical Center.
After World War II, the northwestern part of the neighborhood held some of the city’s last undeveloped land, and suburban-style homes filled it in. That growth gave Elmhurst the quiet, driveway-and-yard character it is known for today.
La Salle Academy
Getting oriented
Streets, blocks, and sub-areas
Around Providence College
Blocks near the campus off Eaton Street and River Avenue, with more rentals and activity during the school year.
Pleasant Valley Parkway
Homes along and near the landscaped parkway, with its bike lane and green median running through the neighborhood.
The northwest blocks
Post-war streets toward Smith Street and the North Providence line, with single-family homes, driveways, and yards.
Chalkstone and Admiral
The southern and eastern edges, closer to everyday shopping, bus routes, and Route 146.
Housing
Homes and architecture
Elmhurst is mostly single-family. The 2020 Census counted about 2,500 housing units, with roughly 64% owner-occupied, a high share for Providence. Older streets near the parkway and Higgins Avenue have early 1900s homes, while the northwest blocks are filled with post-war houses.
Single-family homes: colonials, capes, ranches, and early 1900s houses, many with yards and driveways
Two-families: scattered through the neighborhood, attractive to owner-occupants who want rental income
Historic homes: older houses on Higgins Avenue and near the parkway
Rental demand: steady near Providence College
Pleasant Valley Parkway
Market deep dive
The market and what homes cost to carry
Elmhurst is an active market. In the three months ending August 2026 the median sale price was around $510,000, homes typically sold in about 26 days, and about 30 homes sold in August alone. That price point sits below the East Side, which keeps the neighborhood popular with first-time buyers.
Property taxes, worked out
Providence taxes owner-occupied homes at a lower rate than investment properties. Here is what that looks like at Elmhurst price points.
Home type and value
Rate per $1,000
Yearly tax
Monthly
Owner-occupied single-family, $450,000
$8.40
$3,780
~$315
Owner-occupied single-family, $510,000
$8.40
$4,284
~$357
Owner-occupied 2 to 5 family, $600,000
$7.55
$4,530
~$378
Assessed values often differ from sale prices, and exemptions can change the bill. Rates: City of Providence FY2027 Municipal Levy Ordinance.
Because well-priced homes can go under contract in a few weeks, get pre-approved and know your monthly number, including taxes and insurance, before you start touring.
Commute & transit
Getting around
On foot: Providence College, Pleasant Valley Parkway, and shops on Smith Street and Admiral Street are walkable from many blocks
By bus: RIPTA Route 55 (Admiral/Providence College), Route 56 (Chalkstone Ave), and Route 57 (Smith St) connect the neighborhood with downtown
By train: Providence Station, with Amtrak and MBTA commuter rail to Boston, is about 10 minutes by car
By car: Route 146 and I-95 are a short drive for commuting north and south
By air: Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is about 20 to 25 minutes south
Outdoors
Parks and outdoors
Pleasant Valley Parkway: a City Beautiful era parkway completed in 1909, with a green median and a bike lane
Fargnoli Park: a city park on Smith Street with a water park, a ball field, and summer concerts
Providence College campus: green space and athletic facilities, including Schneider Arena for hockey
Triggs Memorial Golf Course: a public Donald Ross course from 1932, a short drive west on Chalkstone Avenue
Lifestyle
Daily life in Elmhurst
Elmhurst feels like a quiet suburb inside city limits. Mornings might start with a walk or ride along the parkway, errands happen on Smith Street or Admiral Street, and the college adds energy during the school year. Friars men’s basketball plays downtown at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, a short drive away, and hockey games are on campus at Schneider Arena.
For schools, Providence Public Schools uses a citywide enrollment process. Nathanael Greene Middle School is located on Chalkstone Avenue, and families can review options and school data through the Providence Public School District and the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Honest take
Pros and tradeoffs
What people love
Yards, driveways, and quiet residential streets
A high share of owner-occupied homes for Providence
Pleasant Valley Parkway and a college campus nearby
Prices below the East Side with an easy commute
What to weigh
Blocks near campus see student rentals and school-year traffic
Well-priced homes move quickly, so preparation matters
Most errands and commutes are easier by car
Older roofs, heating, and electrical systems can add costs
Buyer checklist
What to check before you buy in Elmhurst
Campus proximity: visit during the school year, since blocks near Providence College have more rentals and activity
Inspections: budget for close looks at roofs, heating, older electrical systems, and lead paint in pre-1978 homes
Pre-approval: homes priced well can go under contract in a few weeks, so have financing ready
City line: confirm the municipality on homes near North Providence, since taxes and services follow the address
Two-family numbers: review leases, rents, and unit condition before you count on rental income
Programs: first-time buyers may qualify for RIHousing loans and down payment assistance
FAQ
Questions buyers ask about Elmhurst
What does a home in Elmhurst cost?
In the three months ending August 2026 the median sale price was around $510,000, and homes typically sold in about 26 days.
Is Elmhurst mostly owners or renters?
Mostly owners. The 2020 Census found about 64% of housing units were owner-occupied, a high share for Providence, with more rentals near Providence College.
What is Pleasant Valley Parkway?
A landscaped parkway the city created in 1909, modeled on Blackstone Boulevard. It runs through Elmhurst with a green median and a bike lane.
How long is the commute from Elmhurst?
Downtown and Providence Station are about 10 minutes by car, Route 146 and I-95 are close by, and several RIPTA routes connect to downtown.
Work with Junia
Thinking about Elmhurst?
Junia Janvier is a REALTOR® with Corcoran Chart House Realty who helps buyers and sellers across Rhode Island, in English and Haitian Creole. Bring your budget, your timeline, and your questions, and she will help you see where Elmhurst fits.
Sources: Redfin neighborhood data, three months ending August 2026; 2020 U.S. Census; City of Providence FY2027 Municipal Levy Ordinance; City of Providence neighborhood booklets; RIPTA; Wikipedia articles on Elmhurst and Providence College. Figures change often and are provided for general information only; contact Junia for current numbers. Photos: Harkins Hall and Pleasant Valley Parkway by Kenneth C. Zirkel (CC BY-SA 4.0); La Salle Academy by John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Junia Janvier, REALTOR® | Corcoran Chart House Realty | 47 Maple Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806 | (401) 246-4198 | RI License RES.0201111. Corcoran and the Corcoran logos are trademarks of Corcoran Group LLC. The Corcoran® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Corcoran System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.
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