Neighborhood deep dive · Providence, RI
Manton
Providence’s western edge, where a college campus, a river, and two neighboring towns meet.
By Junia Janvier, REALTOR® · Corcoran Chart House Realty · Updated October 2026
Manton is the westernmost neighborhood in Providence, a residential corner of the city along the Woonasquatucket River and the Johnston line. This guide covers how a farming district became a mill village and then a neighborhood of homes, which streets feel which way, what homes cost to buy and carry, and what to check before you make an offer.
Median sale price
~$550K
Redfin, September 2026 (small sample)
Owner-occupied tax
$8.40
Per $1,000, single-family (FY2027)
Owner-occupied 2 to 5 family
$7.55
Per $1,000 (FY2027)
Campus
Next door
Rhode Island College, founded 1854
Riverside greenway
~5 miles
Woonasquatucket River Greenway
History & identity
The story of Manton
Manton sits at the far western edge of Providence. North Providence lies to the north, and the Woonasquatucket River separates the neighborhood from Johnston to the west. Inside the city, Manton borders Hartford, Olneyville, and Mount Pleasant, with Rushmore Avenue, Chalkstone Avenue, Smith Street, and Triggs Memorial Golf Course marking its eastern side.
The neighborhood is named for Edward Manton, one of the area’s original landowners, whose family later assembled a large tract here. Through the 1600s and 1700s this was rural farmland. Tanneries opened near the river in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and the first two textile mills followed in 1827 and 1830, running on the river’s water power. Rail lines heading east through Olneyville to downtown helped turn the riverbank into a busy industrial strip by the end of the 1800s.
As the mills closed in the 20th century, Manton changed again. Manton Heights, a public housing development, opened in 1953, and many of the neighborhood’s homes were built in the decades after. Between 1980 and 1990 alone, the number of housing units more than doubled, which is why Manton has a younger housing stock than many Providence neighborhoods.
Today Manton is a quiet residential neighborhood with Rhode Island College’s campus on one side and the river on the other. The college, which began as the Rhode Island Normal School in 1854, moved to its current campus in northwest Providence in 1958.
Getting oriented
Streets, blocks, and sub-areas
Manton is small, but it has distinct pockets. Knowing them helps you decide where to look and what to compare across the city line.
Manton Avenue
The neighborhood’s main road, running east toward Olneyville and downtown, with everyday shopping and services along the way.
Near the river
Blocks closest to the Woonasquatucket and the Johnston line, including former mill land. Check flood maps here before making an offer.
Near the college
Streets around Rhode Island College see more campus traffic during the school year, plus steady demand for rentals.
Toward Triggs
The eastern edge near Chalkstone Avenue and the golf course, with residential side streets and quick access to Mount Pleasant.
Housing
Homes and architecture
Compared with neighborhoods closer to downtown, much of Manton’s housing is newer. Expect mid-century and later single-family homes, two- and three-family houses, some apartment buildings, and a few newer builds. Many homes have driveways and yards, which is less common in denser parts of the city.
- Single-family homes: capes, ranches, and colonials, many built after World War II
- Two- and three-families: the classic Providence multifamily, attractive to owner-occupants who want rental income
- Newer construction: a handful of more recent homes and infill builds
- Rental demand: supported by Rhode Island College and easy access to Johnston, North Providence, and downtown
Market deep dive
The market and what homes cost to carry
Manton sees only a few sales each month, so prices can swing widely. In September 2026 the median sale price was around $550,000. Because the neighborhood sits right on the Johnston and North Providence lines, it is worth comparing homes on both sides, since tax rates and services differ.
Property taxes, worked out
Providence taxes owner-occupied homes at a lower rate than investment properties. Here is what that looks like at Manton price points.
| Home type and value | Rate per $1,000 | Yearly tax | Monthly |
|---|
| Owner-occupied single-family, $500,000 | $8.40 | $4,200 | ~$350 |
| Owner-occupied 2 to 5 family, $560,000 | $7.55 | $4,228 | ~$352 |
| Same 2 to 5 family, not owner-occupied | $14.00 | $7,840 | ~$653 |
Assessed values often differ from sale prices, and exemptions can change the bill. Rates: City of Providence FY2027 Municipal Levy Ordinance.
Living in one unit of a multifamily keeps you at the owner-occupied rate, and rent from the other units can offset part of the mortgage. For a single-family, compare the full monthly cost against similar homes in Johnston or North Providence before you decide.
Commute & transit
Getting around
- On foot: Rhode Island College and the shops along Manton Avenue are walkable from many blocks, and the Woonasquatucket River Greenway runs nearby
- By bus: RIPTA Route 27 (Broadway/Manton) runs along Manton Avenue toward downtown, and Route 92 serves Rhode Island College
- By train: Providence Station, with Amtrak and MBTA commuter rail to Boston, is about 15 minutes by car
- By car: Route 6 and Route 10 are close by, and I-295 is a short drive west through Johnston
- By air: Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is about 20 to 25 minutes south
Outdoors
Parks and the river
- Woonasquatucket River: the river runs along the Johnston line and gives the western edge of the neighborhood its green border
- Woonasquatucket River Greenway: about 5 miles of on- and off-road path between Johnston and Providence Place, linking to the downtown riverwalk
- Merino Park: a riverside recreation area in neighboring Hartford, reached by a footbridge over Route 6
- Triggs Memorial Golf Course: a public Donald Ross course that opened in 1932, on the neighborhood’s eastern edge
- Neutaconkanut Hill: wooded trails and city views a short drive south in Silver Lake
Lifestyle
Daily life in Manton
Life in Manton is residential and car-friendly. Errands happen along Manton Avenue or across the line in Johnston and North Providence, and downtown is a short drive east. Rhode Island College brings performances, lectures, and athletics to the neighborhood’s doorstep, and the river greenway offers a place to walk or bike.
For schools, Providence Public Schools uses a citywide enrollment process; 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
- Quieter, residential streets on the edge of the city
- Driveways and yards are more common than in denser neighborhoods
- A college campus and a river greenway close by
- Quick access to Johnston, North Providence, and Route 6
What to weigh
- Few sales each month, so pricing comps can be thin
- Most errands and commutes are easier by car
- Blocks near campus see more traffic during the school year
- Some riverside blocks need a flood zone review
Buyer checklist
What to check before you buy in Manton
- Flood zone: look up homes near the Woonasquatucket River on FEMA’s flood maps and get an insurance quote early
- City line: confirm which municipality a home is in, since taxes, services, and schools follow the address
- Total monthly cost: compare taxes and insurance against similar homes in Johnston and North Providence
- Older systems: budget for inspections that look closely at lead paint, wiring, heating, and roofs
- Multifamily 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 Manton
Where exactly is Manton?
Manton is the westernmost neighborhood in Providence. It borders North Providence to the north and Johnston to the west, with the Woonasquatucket River marking the Johnston line, and sits next to Rhode Island College.
What does a home in Manton cost?
In September 2026 the median sale price was around $550,000. Manton has few sales each month, so prices can swing widely from one month to the next.
Is Manton in a flood zone?
Some blocks near the Woonasquatucket River may be. Check each property on FEMA’s flood maps and get an insurance quote before making an offer.
Should I also look in Johnston or North Providence?
It is worth comparing. Homes just across the line can carry different tax bills and services, so compare the full monthly cost, not just the price.
Work with Junia
Thinking about Manton?
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 Manton fits.
Sources: Redfin neighborhood data, September 2026 (small monthly samples, so expect swings); City of Providence FY2027 Municipal Levy Ordinance; Rhode Island College; City of Providence Parks and Recreation; RIDOT Bike Rhode Island; RIPTA; Wikipedia articles on Manton and Rhode Island College. Figures change often and are provided for general information only; contact Junia for current numbers. Photos: Rhode Island College by Kenneth C. Zirkel (CC BY-SA 4.0), 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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