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We will be relocating to Providence this summer and wondering where to buy a house (up to $500,000)
Our must-have list includes:
*Good elemantary school! We have two small kids (2y and 4y).
*Close access to restaurants, shops, arts and culture.
*Close access to nature.
*Safe and friendly neighborhood.
*Lots of activities for kids.
If you're looking specifically in the city of Providence, look in the "Catholic Triangle" aka Elmhurst.
catholic grammar school on Eaton St to Academy HS then on to Prov College. Streets you'll find the best housing are within 1 block north of Smith St on Huxley over to Academy.
If you're just looking for something commuting distance to Providence, then you need to define whether you want beaches/water or inland.
Everywhere in the state is "close access to nature". It's a small state and you can get from Westerly to Burrillville in under an hour. At least 2/3 of the state is still forest and then you can add in eastern CT's forestlands.
I prefer west bay - but then I'm a big beach person and I never cared much for Newport's beaches or the west bay much at all. South Kingstown and Charlestown are as far south as I'd want to be working in Providence (I did that commute -45 min- for many years.) but South Kingstown was wonderful for raising kids. Not sure what you mean by "culture" but there's plenty over at URI or head on up to Providence or Boston or south to NYC (3 hrs by train). If you're heading south to the beaches and South Kingstown, look at The Oaks in Peacedale (village in SK).
There are only 2 neighborhoods in Providence to consider. Elmhurst, as Annie mentioned, is one. The other is the East Side of the city- my personal preference since it has everything you mentioned. Martin Luther King elem gets good ratings.
Work will be in Pawtucket.
We have never lived in the US, but in major European, Asian and Canadian cities. We're very used to big city life and it's conveniences with shopping, restaurants and good schools nearby. Boston seems like too far of a commute and I try to figure out if Providence would be a good place for us to live.
I think you'll find that there is no need whatsoever to live as far away as Boston! Providence is not that small!! Once you visit, you'll see that it compares favorably to many European cities- cheaper however - and that is a good thing.
Thank you so much for all the great input (well, apart from rosco917). We've only heard great things about Providence and can't wait to finally visit with the kids.
There is a world of difference between the major cities of Europe and Providence. A city is not a city anywhere. Being that you've been to 3 continents may help you make the transition, but having travelled to 3 continents myself, I am struck by the differences. Not just the physical characteristics but the ambiance, the energy (or lack), will be very different. Very possibly your having lived in many different countries will make the culture shock a little less for you.
I loved living in Providence (except that it wasn't South County). And you just might enjoy the different pace of life in the northeast.
Rosco, are you sure it wasn't that 'Poison Ivy'? I had a real urge to listen to More Hot Rocks the other night, but no one has uploaded it. So I listen to "Time Waits for No One" and got my fix.
Anyways. Providence and RI is a nice mix of people and places; the Hope Village area of the East Side always seems especially pleasant. While the city is densely populated, more so on the West Side, some streets around the Wayland Square area are so wide and green with trees and gardens it's hard to believe it's the city. A great area to raise a family if you can buy a house there.
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