Someone else moving to PVD. (Providence: rentals, insurance, condos)

[anonymouse1975]

Hi there,

I have a few questions that have been bubbling around in my head for some weeks. Some of them have been asked before (pardon), but a couple have not:

1. Commuting to Boston. I do have some marketable, niche-ish skills that I hope will land me a job in Providence proper. But just in case, how miserable is the commute to Boston? I know how long it takes...but how crowded is it, how costly, how stressed out is everyone? Is the MBTA or Regional faster?
(I hate commuting, everyone work the mojo that there is a job for me downcity.)
2. Speaking of commuting, what is the neighborhood around the train station like? What is it called? Would I want to walk alone in the morning/evening darkness to get there? Is rent more pricey because of the proximity to the MBTA/Amtrak lines?
3. What are some cheap ethnically diverse neighborhoods in town. I see a lot of Federal Hill and Eastside apts advertised on craigslist but what is wrong with South Providence and other points west? Last time I visited I quite liked that section of town. Seems cheap, funky and full of character - but I wasn't there a long time.
4. What are the best ways to find jobs in Providence? I have surfed a bit on craigslist and on projo.com but the jobs I'd want are quite limited and I keep reading that one must have connections to land plum jobs. How do I go about making them? Has anyone worked with recruiting agencies with any luck? Who did you use?
5. Further along making connections, what's the best way to meet people in town? I know it's a college town but I will have finished with grad school by the time I arrive, and I'm pretty well done partying 7 days a week. Are people pretty friendly or should I look online for new acquaintances?
6. Where can I find your best local media (radio and t.v.) online?

Guess that's a start. Thanks to any and all who have responses...

[GermanSpy]

Originally Posted by anonymouse1975

Hi there,


Guess that's a start. Thanks to any and all who have responses...

The best way to commute to Boston from Providence is via the T. You can hop on it in Downtown Providence or South Attleboro if you live outside of Providence. I'd say it beats driving to Boston hands down. It's faster and less stressful. Maybe not necessarily cheaper but I'd rather pay and keep my sanity than commuting to Boston every day.

The area around the Downtown Amtrak station is near the Providence Place Mall. It's close to the Waterplace park and close to 'Downtown'. Prices are fairly expensive I'd say. Not necessarily because of the close vicinity to the train station but because of the development of large amounts of 'luxury' condos in Downtown Providence. Providence is becoming a bit of a sleeper city for the crowd working in Boston. Our rentals are still more affordable than their equivalents in Boston and lots of people trade the commute for the cheaper rent. It's debatable if it's worth living in Downtown Providence though. Safety concerns around the train station are not an issue at all, especially in the morning. Late late at night you might have to be a little careful maaaybe, but nothing drastic.

Finding jobs in Providence and RI in general is a big problem. We simply don't have a lot unless you're into insurance, finances, healthcare or academics. And yes, it's definitely true that you need to be well connected to get a job in Providence. It's an issue which has made it difficult for 'foreigners' to start a good career here. You'll find that even if you are more qualified for a position somebody else gets it just because they're the third cousin of an uncle of the HR person. It's a very small state.
I can't tell you how to make these connections. It's tough. Volunteer maybe, try the staffing agencies. Maybe become politically active. There're several venues. You'll need to work on that though if you want to get somewhere in RI. Meeting people is generally easy, even if you don't party seven days a week. There're lots of museums, clubs, theaters etc. You'll find a lot of things to do in RI and a lot of people who might enjoy the same things you do. So I wouldn't worry too much about that.