Relocating to Providence, RI?
 

Hello,

I have a strong job opportunity in Providence, RI that may materialize into an offer as soon as next week- except for my brief visit there on an interview, I don't have too much familiarity with the area, so I was seeking some insight on life in Providence in general and potential neighborhoods which I might want to consider should I choose to relocate there...the job is located in the College Hill district, and I'd be looking for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment, ideally within a 20 minute commute of that area...

Any FTer insight into the Providence life would be greatly appreciated!

Where do you live now? That would help with a comparison.

I'm currently living with family on a temporary basis in south Florida...

This obviously depends on your personal preferences. If you're a young professional, College Hill or downtown proper would suit your needs just fine. Downtown is small, and not a ton of bars and restaurants (compared to bigger cities such as Boston or New York), but you can probably find cheap housing there (many apartment complexes were built and left empty during the housing boom of the mid-2000s).

College Hill, obviously, is a slightly younger demographic, as the name suggests.

If you're looking for more of a suburban environment, any of the towns to the north and east would probably suit your needs. Mansfield and Foxboro, MA are big commuter towns due to their location on I-95, each with many suitable apartment complexes.

Me personally? I'd live in Boston and commute. But I can understand why that would not be ideal. It's hard to say without knowing more about you.

Is that "family" as in your parents or your kids?

I spent a few years in Providence, and it's not a bad place at all. Head out Hope St. and there are some very nice residential areas. On College Hill itself most of the party scene is pretty young, but are you looking for a party scene or a family home?

Commute to Providence?!? Yikes that's a long ride, especially in traffic. Not be ideal doesn't even begin to cover it.

I frequently commuted to Providence via WN back in the 90s. Many many weekends were spent there... one of the best memories I ever formulated was for a place called East Side Pockets on Thayer St. To this day, it remains my favorite falafael joint ever.....

FDW

I've been living with my parents - not an ideal situation but Im thankful that they put me up for a few months while I conducted my job search - as of this morning, the search is over - the company in PVD offered me the job and I accepted, so I'm definitely moving up there in the next few weeks...

I'm single and in my late 20's so I'm not necessarily looking to be right in the middle of the party/nightlife scene, but I wouldn't mind if it was nearby - more important to me is a short commute to work as my job often will require long hours, so minimizing transit time is key...also, a safe neighborhood is basically a given as well - my budget would be about $1000 or so for an apartment, and I'd be looking for a studio or 1 bedroom...

Now that I've accepted the offer, I'm delving headlong into my own research about life up there but I'm definitely open to suggestions and feedback from PVD FTers as well!

I spent four years living in that neighborhood and really loved it; Providence is a really fun town once you get to know it. I'm not sure whether it's in your budget or not, but maybe consider finding a place on Wickenden Street- close enough to College Hill that you can commute easily, far enough away that you won't be overrun by undergrads, and legitimately a fun area in its own right.

I lived for a time in a nice suburban community about 20 minutes south of Providence, and 10 minutes south of PVD. I'd definitely stay in the city, and the apartments around the universities would be the best bet. There are nicer apartments around the train station, but those probably are a bit more than 1000$ a month.

All of the suburban stuff is fairly family oriented, and most of the communities immediately surrounding Providence aren't that nice to live in.

Thanks for the insight - the vibe that I'm getting in my research both from my future co-workers as well as online is that the East Side neighborhood definitely seems to be the right place to live...there are a decent amount of units available within a 20 minute walk to my new office, which would be ideal, and the prices there seem to fit within my budget, although they lack some amenities that I'd prefer in an ideal unit - I'm going up there soon to take a first-hand look at some places and hopefully sign a lease on something that I find...

Were there any specific communities that you had in mind that 'aren't that nice to live' ? Most of the places that I plan on visiting are on the East Side but I do plan on visiting some complexes in the suburbs for comparison's sake...

I love east side pockets, there is another location near me thats in a gas station. Best Gas Station food ever.

If you are going to live in Providence, I would definitely recommend somewhere on the east side. Lots of college students so there is more to do. I grew up in Warwick, where you will find cheaper rents and am currently living in Cumberland about 20mins north of the city.

If there is anything you need let me know.

I'm not sure where you're coming from, but I'd avoid Cranston and Pawtucket, although there can be some gems if you do a thorough search. Anything west if I-95 or south of the river isn't as nice.

Southern Warwick and East Greenwich can be quite nice, especially in the summer (where I lived). Still, it's all houses really, and it'd be tough meeting new people.

As much as I can't stand the hipsters who are abundant in Providence, it would be where I'd live if I was single and didn't know anyone.

PVD...where to start...

Personally, I would want to live as close to Brown/Thayer St as I could. Most of RI isn't nice unless you get way out into the country or way down south to Newport area (personal opinion). Parts of Providence are great, parts are terrible - stay far away from anything near Pawtucket. You'll be close enough to Boston that you can easily do all the cultural stuff Boston has to offer as well.

Good luck with the move, get yourself some Del's and Nice Slice when you arrive.