Town file
Barrington, Rhode Island
Barrington, Rhode Island is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 307, "Smart People, Stupid Murder" (6 August 2022). Barrington, Rhode Island, is a small, wealthy town of 16,015 people on the far eastern panhandle of the state, where the median household income is $103,937 and the median home costs $524,000.
- Town
- Barrington
- State
- Rhode Island
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 307
- Approximate location
- 41.733, -71.320
Episode 307 / 6 August 2022 / 68 min / express
Smart People, Stupid Murder
"This is Barrington, Rhode Island, far far eastern Rhode Island, its own little panhandle." about 0:02:57
The case: Murder of the Brendel family (September 1991). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2022
- Population
- 16,015 people
- Median household income
- $103,937
- Median home value
- $524,000
History, in brief
- The Newwith Rubber Company operated in Barrington until its plant burned down in the 1940s and nobody rebuilt it. about 0:04:31
- The 1938 New England hurricane caused huge damage to homes along the shoreline, wrecked boats and destroyed railroad service for a while. about 0:04:53
- Barrington was the only dry town in Rhode Island until 2011. about 0:05:05
- In 2011 the town finally approved two liquor stores, and it is still controlled: you cannot simply open a bar. about 0:05:37
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Quiet, friendly, clean, family-oriented town with countless neighbourhoods, one of the best school systems in Rhode Island, the East Bay bike path and a town beach."about 0:05:45
4 stars
"A lovely town with a great education."about 0:07:18
3 stars
"The community is not for me; I never fit in, but for most people it is a great place to be."about 0:07:23
2 stars
"For all but three months of the year it is cold; if you do not like the cold this is not the place for you."about 0:07:55
1 star
"Patronising people with no personality; touch their laws and they will chase you; wealthy kids academically educated but uneducated in principles; commuting a nightmare and power lost for days in any storm."about 0:08:07
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Warren, Rhode Island3.2 miles
- East Providence, Rhode Island5.1 miles
- Cranston, Rhode Island8.9 miles
- Pawtucket, Rhode Island10 miles
- Little Compton, Rhode Island18 miles
- Raynham, Massachusetts20 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.