$320,000 buys the median home in Pawtucket right now. With 20% down, that's a $64,000 down payment and a $256,000 loan, set against a $52,000 median household income.
Pawtucket's 1.68% property tax rate runs above the 1.1% national average. That's $448/month on the median home here, not a rounding error against the mortgage payment.
Between the $2,249/month mortgage payment and Rhode Island's state income tax, your real housing cost calculation needs your after-tax number, not your gross salary.
Beyond housing, Pawtucket's cost of living index sits at 114 (national average = 100), running above the national baseline for groceries, transportation, and everyday services.
Pawtucket's median home price runs 12% lower than nearby Providence: $365,000 there versus $320,000 here.