Mount Hope

History & identity

The story of Mount Hope

Mount Hope is one of six East Side neighborhoods, bounded by Rochambeau Avenue to the north, Hope Street to the east, Olney Street to the south, and the rail line and I-95 to the west. Camp Street runs lengthwise through its center and has long served as its main landmark.

The area was settled in the late 1600s as farmland. The Jeremiah Dexter Farmhouse on North Main Street, built in 1754, is the neighborhood’s oldest recorded surviving structure, and French Army troops camped on the Dexter farm in 1782 on their return from Virginia during the American Revolution. The North Burial Ground, Providence’s first public cemetery, was established in 1700 and anchors the neighborhood’s western side.

In the 1800s, the southern part of Mount Hope grew into one of Providence’s earliest free Black communities, many of them formerly enslaved people and their descendants after Rhode Island’s 1784 Gradual Emancipation Act. Rising tensions over housing fueled the Hard Scrabble riot of 1824 and the Snow Town riot of 1831, which targeted Black residents. Later, Cape Verdean families also made homes here, centered around Camp and Cypress Streets.

The 20th century brought major change. The city’s Lippitt Hill redevelopment project rebuilt much of the southern neighborhood, and critics have long said it displaced many longtime Black residents. Today Mount Hope’s community garden, churches, and institutions such as the American Mathematical Society headquarters sit alongside homes that span nearly three centuries.

Getting oriented

Streets, blocks, and sub-areas

Mount Hope is a larger, more varied neighborhood than its East Side neighbors, and each edge has its own feel.

Housing

Homes and architecture

Mount Hope offers the widest mix of home types on the East Side. Expect late 19th and early 20th century single-family homes, classic Providence two- and three-family houses, some apartment complexes, and newer construction from the redevelopment era. A handful of much older homes, including the Dexter Farmhouse, survive from the neighborhood’s farming years.

• Single-family homes: Victorian and early 20th century houses, many near Hope Street and the northern blocks
• Two- and three-families: common throughout, and a strong fit for owner-occupants who want rental income
• Apartment complexes and newer homes: concentrated in the southern blocks rebuilt in the 20th century
• Prices vary: by size, condition, and location, so recent nearby sales matter

Market deep dive

The market and what homes cost to carry

Mount Hope gives buyers East Side location with more multifamily choices. In the three months ending June 2026, the median sale price was around $800,000, and homes sold in a median of about 30 days. With an owner and renter mix of roughly 50/50, multifamily homes make up a meaningful share of what comes to market.

Property taxes, worked out

Providence taxes owner-occupied homes at a lower rate than investment properties. Here is what that looks like at Mount Hope price points.

Living in one unit of a two- or three-family keeps you at the owner-occupied rate and lets rental income offset part of the mortgage, which is one of the main reasons buyers look at Mount Hope.

Commute & transit

Getting around

• On foot: Hope Street, Brown University, and College Hill are walkable, and downtown is about 20 minutes on foot
• By bus: RIPTA Route 1 (Eddy/Hope/Benefit) runs along Hope Street, and the R-Line (Broad/North Main) serves North Main Street
• By train: Providence Station is a short drive or bus ride south for Amtrak and MBTA commuter rail to Boston
• By car: I-95 runs along the neighborhood’s western edge
• By air: Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is about 20 minutes south by car

Outdoors

Parks and green space

• Mount Hope Community Garden: shared garden plots and green space in the heart of the neighborhood
• North Burial Ground: 110 acres of historic, landscaped grounds, established in 1700 and listed on the National Register, for quiet walks
• Ladd Observatory: Brown University’s 1891 observatory at Hope Street and Doyle Avenue hosts free public observing nights on Tuesdays, weather permitting
• Lippitt Park and Blackstone Boulevard: the farmers market and the 1.7 mile walking path are a short walk northeast

Lifestyle

Daily life in Mount Hope

Mount Hope feels neighborly and grounded. Errands happen on North Main Street, dinner and coffee on Hope Street, and Brown and College Hill are a short walk south. The community garden and long-standing churches give the neighborhood gathering places, and its history is visible in buildings from the 1700s onward.

For schools, Providence Public Schools uses a citywide enrollment process. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School is located on Camp Street, 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

Buyer checklist

What to check before you buy in Mount Hope

• Financing first: get pre-approved, since homes near Hope Street move quickly
• Older homes: budget for inspections that look closely at lead paint, wiring, heating, and foundations
• Block by block: visit at different times of day, since streets near North Main Street and I-95 feel different from interior blocks
• Multifamily numbers: review leases, rents, and unit condition before you count on rental income
• Comparable sales: look at recent sales on nearby streets, since prices vary widely across the neighborhood
• Programs: first-time buyers may qualify for RIHousing loans and down payment assistance