Here's my .02
Like Eben said, not too many apts in SoCo, but there are some so you gotta keep your eyes on the Narragnasett Times. Several in Westerly, some in Wakefield, not much from Mantuck to Charley. Narragansett (pier area) has many rentable houses, but you may need roomates to make that work.
If it were me I would look in Wickford or downtown East Greenwich. Close to prov, close to south coast, close to newport, also on Narragansett Bay which is good fishing too.
What Spence doesn't realize is that East Bay isn't really Rhode Island
