These are the top 5 reasons why you should move to Portsmouth, RI
The Best Portsmouth Moving Company

These are the top 5 reasons why you should move to Portsmouth, RI
- The Town of Portsmouth has a diverse ethnic population with an eclectic blend of unique neighborhoods; each with their own charms.
- Portsmouth is a full-service town with a comprehensive array of top tier services; schools, fire/rescue, public safety, recreation, sports, and infrastructure.
- Portsmouth is centrally located in the state and crisscrossed with major highways making getting around quick and convenient. If you’re a business or professional, relocating to Portsmouth means 85% of Rhode Islanders are within a 25-minute drive to your location.
- Portsmouth has some of the best restaurants and food in the country with a diverse blend of cuisines from all over the world.
- Portsmouth has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, making living in Portsmouth a wonderful, peaceful experience.
Moving to the Town of Portsmouth offers you and your family every possible advantage; safety, a full array of professional services, convenience, and stability. These same characteristics are also present when choosing Arpin of RI, the best Portsmouth moving company. Whether you’re moving locally or long-distance, to start the move process, just call Arpin of RI at 825-6600 to set up a free, no obligation in-home estimate and we’ll take it from there.

The most trusted Portsmouth mover
History of Portsmouth
The present-day Town of Portsmouth was first settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters form the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Portsmouth shares Aquidneck Island with the City of Newport and the Town of Middletown. In addition, Portsmouth also encompasses four islands in Narragansett Bay, Patience Island, Prudence Island, Hope Island, and Hog Island.
Most of the early residents were famers and their families, a few tradesmen, and several wealthy Newport merchants that built large estates.

The growth of Newport as a summer holiday location in the years following the Civil War resulted in extensive residential expansion to the North along the Saconnet River and Narragansett Bay waterfronts.
Portsmouth’s 20th century growth was slow by typical American standards, but accelerated after the building of the Mount Hope Bridge in 1929. The new suspension bridge linked Aquidneck Island with the mainland for the first time and Portsmouth and Bristol, RI were connected.

Portsmouth is still largely rural and agricultural today with horse farms, golf courses, and many residential neighborhoods.
Home and population data for Portsmouth
The Town of Portsmouth’s dimensions are approximately 5 miles South East to North West and about 8 miles North to South. Including the 3 smaller islands, Portsmouth has an area about 59 square miles. In the 2020 census, Portsmouth had a population of about 17,200 citizens. The racial makeup of Portsmouth in 2020 was 91% non-Hispanic white, 5% Hispanic, 2% African American, and 3% from other races.

The median home price in Portsmouth of $511,500 significantly higher than the median price of $437,000 for the entire state of RI. (Prices as of May 2023.) Only 8% of Portsmouth homes are valued less than $267,000. 15% are valued between $267,000 and $400,000. 39% of homes are valued between $400,000 and $667,000. 26% are valued between $668,000 and $1,000,000. Almost 11 of Portsmouth homes exceed $1,000,000 in value.

Just 15% of Portsmouth homes were built before 1940. 33% were built between 1940 and 1969, 38% were constructed between 1970 and 2000, and 15% were constructed after 2001.
The median household income in Portsmouth is $104,500, which is more affluent than the median income for the rest of the state which was $70,305 as of May 2023. With its cozy size, safety, and home values, it is clear why Portsmouth is one of the most sought-after destinations to move. That’s why you should choose the most trusted Portsmouth mover for over 120 years; Arpin of RI.

The highest rated Portsmouth moving company
Neighborhoods in Portsmouth
The Town of Portsmouth has a diverse assortment of neighborhoods to choose from so there is literally something for everyone planning a move to Portsmouth. Aquidneck Island has two major highways running North to South that trisect the island into three sections. The Western side is bordered by Narragansett Bay, the Eastern side is bordered by the Sakonnet River, and the central section is between the two thoroughfares.

In the northern most corner of Portsmouth is the neighborhood of Island Park. This covers the areas of Common Fence Point, Island Park, and Pocasset Heights at the base of the Mount Hope Bridge. To the SW of Island Park is the neighborhood of Homestead which is dominated by Portsmouth Abby. The area of Homestead also includes the four islands, Patience, Prudence, Hope, and Hog.
To the South of Homestead is the neighborhood of Melville. Once home to the Navy’s refueling center, Melville has many home sites inland between East Main Road and West Main Road.
Portsmouth most affluent area is the Town Center/Portsmouth Park neighborhood which extends along the western shores of the Sakonnet River. The eastern areas of Portsmouth are still largely rural and agricultural with many nurseries and vineyards. All of these Portsmouth neighborhoods have witnessed thousands of Arpin of RI trucks moving residents in and out over the last 123 years.

Apartments and Condos in Portsmouth
For folks looking for an apartment or condo rental in Portsmouth have some interesting choices. There are many options including Bay View Estate Apartments, Prescott Point, and Seabury Apartments.

There are also several condo complexes to choose form such as The Towers at Carnegie Abby, Bailey Brook, and Seafare residences. Also, there are many, many home rentals in Portsmouth due to the presence of the Naval War College at the NETC.
Whether you’re moving to an apartment, condo, or home in Portsmouth, Arpin is your first choice as RI’s oldest and most well-respected moving company.
The most reliable Portsmouth moving company
Outdoor activities in Portsmouth
There is an +of outdoor activities available in Portsmouth such as touring Greenvale Vineyards, the Green Animals Topiary Garden, the Newport Auto Museum, or play a round at the Newport National Golf Course.

Whether your activity level is mild, moderate, or extreme, Portsmouth has an outdoor activity for every level of fitness. Arpin of RI offers many different options for packing and preparing your items for your move depending on how much you’re physically able to participate. We can pack a lot, very little, or we can blend our resources together to make sure every fragile item is handled in a way that delivers a safe move and a great value.

The finest Portsmouth Moving company
Dining in Portsmouth
The Town of Portsmouth has a great diversity of fine dining options. In the areas near Island Park Cove, there are several seafood restaurants such as the 15 Point Restaurant, the Blue Anchor Grill, Trembley’s and Localz Kitchen and Cocktails.

In the Melville neighborhood, is the Gulf Stream Bar and Grille and the Portsmouth Publick House. For Asian fare, try China Gourmet or New China Grill.
Arpin of RI offers our customers the most diverse set of moving services in the state; packing, long distance moving, local moving, commercial moving, and many different storage options. To find out more visit arpinri.com.
Moving Services
The most affordable Portsmouth moving company
How does the Portsmouth move process work?
The first step in a successful move to Portsmouth is a thorough, accurate estimate of all of the services that may be required for your move. Our experienced salesperson will come to your residence to meet with you, listen to your needs and requests, and personally view the contents of your household. Once the salesperson understands what is needed and requested, they will provide you with a written quote that lists all of the potential charges. Our pricing process is totally transparent; you can pick the services you need a la carte. If you prefer to pack some or all of your items in boxes, we offer “gently used” cartons free of charge. Jut stop by our warehouse in West Warwick to pick them up anytime Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm.


How much does it cost to move to Portsmouth?
Arpin offers Portsmouth customers value and safety while other movers offer low price and high risk. Our pricing is based on an hourly charge for the crew and truck that is regulated by the RI Public Utilities Commission. While our hourly rates are competitive, we feel that our crews are faster and more effective than the competition because they are better trained and more experienced. The speed and effectiveness of our movers gives you lower overall costs and a better overall value in the end.
Tips to avoid moving scams
Since most shopping for moving services occurs online, customers may be easily duped and defrauded by rogue movers by slick web sites. Here are some guidelines to help avoid being defrauded.
- Buy local in the 401. Always insist on an in-person visit by a salesperson rather than an over the phone or virtual estimate. It is very easy for an unscrupulous rogue mover to pretend they are local movers over the phone when they may be hundreds or thousands of miles away. Arpin of RI has been located in RI since 1900 and has served the people of RI for generations. Arpin will always make an in-person sales visit to your residence to ensure an accurate weight or time quote and to identify access issues before they become problems.
- Don’t give a deposit. If you’re asked for a deposit to make a reservation for your Portsmouth move by an online mover, assume they are scamming you. Arpin of RI never requires a deposit to hold the date for your move. If the online mover assumes you have so little integrity that they must get half of the monies up front, you have chosen the wrong movers.
- Are they an independent mover with their own trucks or are the just a broker. Many rogue movers are just move brokers and have no trucks to actually handle your belongings. Typically, they farm out your move to another mover who has little or no accountability for service failures or damage. Arpin of RI has a fleet of trucks and will handle your Portsmouth move in-house, or with one of their partner agencies. They are fully licensed and insured to move shipments across town or across the country.
- Know where your items are being stored. Many rogue movers pretend that they have warehousing facilities and will store your goods wherever they can get the cheapest rate. Take time to actually visit the storage facility to ensure that your items are well protected from damage, pilferage, or contamination. Arpin of RI has a massive warehouse located in West Warwick that is always available for inspection to ensure you have peace of mind when you turn over the possession of your household items to us.