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If you're coming to Providence, see the area which is a portion of the East Side, around Brown University for starters. It's called College Hill. The Rhode Island School of Design is in the same area. Check out Benefit, St, Thayer St., and Prospect Terrace. That will give you a minimal introduction.
Providence is all around a safe city as far as I'm concerned. Even the "bad" parts are pretty much only "bad" by New England standards, which means they're relatively safe compared to non-New England major cities. The neighborhoods I would stay away from if you are really afraid of even small possibilities of urban crime are Washington Park, anything "South Side," parts of the West End (not including Armory Park), Olneyville, Silver Lake, and parts of Hope. Safer neighborhoods include Mt. Pleasant, Federal Hill, anything on the "East Side" except Hope, most of West Broadway, and of course the burbs.
Providence is a very young, single person city (I think something like 20% of the residents are college students.) Vibrant, if small compared to Boston, nightlife. Lots of bars, upscale and not, and lots of foodie places. Lots of the old mills have been gentrified and now boast very pricey condos. You will certainly not be out of place if you're in your 30's and single here!
I would agree that Providence would not be the wrong place to live for someone single and in their 30s.
I can add this about meeting new people:
Hopefully, you've got some friends here or are extremely outgoing.
People for the most part, here, take longer to warm up to new people and I make more friends at work than I do anyplace else.
If you are already from the Northeast then you already know this.
In other words, you are aware that the mindset of the East Coaster tends more toward keeping to oneself.
There may be a boatload of young people here, but put them in a lineup with examples from other cities and I don't know that you would find them frontrunners in the 'says-hi-to-people-they-don't-know' category.
Just my experience, I guess. I'm single, 30s, originally FROM here, and I still find it hard to connect outside the close social circle. I've met more friendly strangers just being out and about eating or shopping alone in Manhattan than 10 years in Providence.
Providence is a pretty vibrant city all around. The college scene causes the nightlife to be pretty decent, as there are a variety of clubs and bars which cater to the budgets of these kids (not too expensive). There are a lot of singles living in the city, but also a lot of commuters- although in RI that's not saying much because everything is so close. With regards to safety- stay away from South Providence and any part to the west of 95 (west end, olneyville, etc). Other than these areas, Providence is pretty safe. Living in Providence is great, because it is the center of Rhode Island, and as such, it doesn't take more than 30 minutes to get anywhere N,S,E or W of it! As has been said, check out the East Side, College Hill, and downtown for some nice places to live!
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