Neighborhood Guide

Brown University aerial view, grey sky

The East Side

Fox Point, College Hill, Wayland, and Hope/Blackstone make up the East Side. Over 85% of students reside in one of these areas. Keep in mind that East Providence is a different city from the East Side.

  • Fox Point: This neighborhood is easily walkable and centers on Wickenden street. Wickenden is a street of restaurants and shops (and a few bars), but it’s not your typical heart-of-it-all street in a college town — that’s Thayer Street, up on College Hill. Fox Point is a mixed neighborhood overall. There are a lot of graduate/medical students in the neighborhood alongside young professionals and families, as well as a few undergraduates. 
  • College Hill: This is the neighborhood that contains Brown’s undergraduate campus, as well as the businesses that serve it and the undergraduates who live off-campus. This is probably the best place for students who want a vibrant experience near a college campus, including easy access to Thayer Street.
  • Wayland: This is a wealthier neighborhood that’s still very friendly to graduate and medical students. It’s centered around Wayland Square, a relatively upscale area of restaurants, shops, and boutiques. It’s a little quieter than Fox Point or College Hill.
  • Hope/Blackstone: Hope, Mount Hope, and Blackstone are some of the pricier areas in Providence. You’ll mostly find families in these areas, though there are some graduate students who live out this way. It may be too far from the medical school to walk on a regular basis.

Other Providence Neighborhoods

While most students tend to live on the East Side, Downtown, Federal Hill, and other Providence neighborhoods can be home to some Brown University students, so don’t overlook them entirely.

  • Downtown: Downtown Providence tends to be slightly more expensive and aimed at young professionals, especially those who work in government. However, it’s also pretty close to the medical school and close to some of the more trendy restaurants and bars in town. For those who want the closest to a “big city” experience Providence has to offer, downtown might be the best place to live.
  • Federal Hill: Federal Hill lies immediately west of Downtown and is home to the city's "Little Italy" neighborhood. There are many bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks located in this neighborhood.
  • Others: It’s possible to live in other areas of Providence, but most students choose to live in one of the above. For more information about neighborhoods across Providence, click here.