Opinions on Attleboro/N. Attleboro and nearby (Boston, Gloucester: rentals, home) - City-Data Forum

nikki074 · 08-04-2010, 01:46 PM

I currently work in Westborough, MA and my husband will be starting work in Groton, CT. We were looking to move to Providence, RI as a good mid-point. But RI seems to have much higher taxes than either MA and CT. We're now thinking of living near the border.

Is Attleboro a good town to live in? Any other suggestions from the experts here?

nikki074 · 08-04-2010, 01:54 PM

I should mention that we'll be renting and schools are not important (no kids)....any help would be much appreciated.

wivenhoe · 08-04-2010, 05:47 PM

North Attleboro is borders RI and has reasonable rentals, and a pleasant main street town. Route 1 has become a shopper's paradise or hell, depending on point of view. It's got convenient access to Routes 95, 495, 295 and 1.

It's about 20-25 minutes to Providence. You'll find it's suburban in parts with pockets of somewhat rural areas near the Cumberland line. North Attleboro and Attleboro used to be the home of Balfour and Josten (jewerly makers who used to manufacture class rings), but today the town and city are bedroom communities for Providence and Boston.

In general, RI tends to have cheaper housing than MA but the schools are not supposed to be as good as MA and the state has lost a ton of manufacturing jobs. RI has been struggling since the recession to restore jobs and lacks a lot of the industries that MA, particularly Boston, has. In fact, many people moved from MA to Providence to commute to Boston.

What type of community are you looking for? Are recreational opportunities (bike trails, parks, beaches, etc.) important to you or a quiet life and access to highways? A couple scene or more than a family town?

nikki074 · 08-05-2010, 12:32 PM

Thanks, wivenhoe. Right now, our priorities are safety and good access to highways. Also, we're in our 20s and don't have kids so schools/family scene is not important.

wivenhoe · 08-05-2010, 05:57 PM

North Attleboro is very safe, suburban town with good access to the highways. There are some singles who rent in town along Route 1 and elsewhere. It might work well for you. It's about an hour and a half to Groton, I think. I know it's an hour to Westerly, RI.

If you want more of a nightlife scene, I would suggest looking at the East Side of Providence or East Providence unless life in NA has changed drastically. East Side around Thayer Street and Brown University is the main college/ twenty-somethings hang out. But I understand the non-resident tax papers if you work in other states. Been there, done that.

How far is it to Groton from Westborough on Rte 395? I wonder if Webster/Dudley or somewhere around the CT/MA/RI line might suit your commute better. I'm not familiar with the area, except a bit in RI. Chepachet, Foster, and Gloucester RI are the sticks. It might be a faster commute with considerably less traffic on Rte 395, but I really don't know.

xyz789 · 08-07-2010, 10:48 AM

I grew up in Attleboro and have made the drive back home from NJ many times. From Groton to Attleboro is about an hours drive as long as you do not hit the "S" curves at the wrong time. Attleboro is a very quiet town that most young adults will find boring. "Expensive" is a matter of opinion. I think that Attleboro is a very expensive place to live. If I could afford it, I would move back in a heart beat.