Affordability issues continued to push more buyers toward smaller, lower-cost metros throughout 2025, redefining further where Americans search for homes.
The Realtor.com® November 2025 Housing Trends Report examined this shift in detail, noting that elevated rates and persistent price levels have encouraged movers to look beyond traditional hubs and into so-called “refuge markets”.
Providence, RI is one of the clearest examples of how that trend is reshaping regional demand, as the smaller metro as seen significant migration recently.
Providence’s Affordability and Value Growth Push It to the Forefront
The Providence-Warwick metro of Rhode Island continues to function as a strategic alternative to higher-priced coastal markets, with the November data underscoring why the metro has become a haven for budget-sensitive buyers…