It is a triangular area roughly bounded by School House Lane to the north, South Commons Road to the east, and Meeting House Lane to the south.

[2] The district features a variety of Greek Revival and Victorian buildings, including the United Congregational Church, whose tall steeple dominates the landscape; the First Methodist Meeting House; the Little Compton Town Hall and a former schoolhouse, now connected; Sakonnet Lodge, formerly a Methodist church; the Little Compton Community Center, formerly Grange Hall; the Brownell Library; a restaurant; and C. R. Wilbur's General Merchandise store; among others.

[2] At the center of the district is the town common itself; one of only two remaining in Rhode Island.

It contains a large colonial cemetery with many graves, including those of American Revolutionary War veterans and other notable individuals.

[3] Nearby is Union Cemetery – also part of the historic district – which features a Civil War Memorial.