Moving to RI, general info (Providence, Pawtucket: for sale, real estate market, rent)

[cgarciaquijano]

Hi,

I'm moving to RI as a new URI faculty member (Kingston Campus). Depending on where my wife finds a job, we might have to find a place to live intermediate between Kingston (S. Kingstown) and Boston, or between Kingston and Worcester MA. We like walkable downtowns, parks, and to use public transportation as much as possible. We plan to start having children very soon. I would like to rely the collective wisdom of Citydata to ask:

Where should we look at places to live?

thanks in advance

[POhdNcrzy]

ChixanoChingassosOreleno, (did I get that right?) your question is too broad and open-ended.

Are you familiar with the area at all? What is your income range and price limit for a house?

Do you want a urban lifestyle? sub-urban? exurban-to-rural?


(I feel like Charles now, and no I am not gonna move to Huntsville...)

[cgarciaquijano]

good try, but that's just my initial and last name

household income will probably be in the low 110K's

We've been to RI, but we're not what we would call familiar with the state (hence my very general, broad question). We've been around New England for a few years, though.

lifestyle: either urban or rural (would like to avoid suburbia if possible).

thanks in advance for the help!

[POhdNcrzy]

Orele amigo,

Bristol and Newport counties are out of the question (too far to URI).

Pretty much anywhere in Kent and Washington counties is gonna be fabulous.

Depending on your where your esposa finds work, you might wanna go with the areas between Providence and Boston (or Worcester) or somewhere in and around Providence itself. If you live in Mass., your commute to URI is gonna be on the long side....

[dgthree]

A good middle point between both URI and the Worcester / Boston would be the Smithfield/Johnston area. You have Rt 44 with a lot to do and you can jump on 295-95 or jump on rt 146 and its a straight shot up to Worcester. I think as far as reasonable prices for living and then having a lot to do in the local community Smithfield off/around Rt 44 would be a really good bet.

[1979]

The southern part of Rhode Island is probably the most picturesque part of the state, and suburban-rural. That is where I would recommend to live. If you worked in South Kingstown, and your wife worked in Worcester or Boston, that would not be good; the distances are just too far, even if you picked a midpoint such as the Providence area or a bit north of there. Travelling from Providence to Worcester is a solid 45-60 minutes on route 146. The drive can be quite pleasant in a dependable car during mild weather, but it would be a treacherous drive in the winter, and the mid-area on route 146 is quite desolate. Travelling to Boston every day is also a bad commute. It would be route 95 all the way, and the traffic can be bad. Again, in winter, much worse. The best case scenario would be for your wife to find a job in RI, or neighboring MA just over the border.

I would rent first; learn the state, then decide where you want to live. Our real estate market is in a slump, so if you did buy, it should be some place where you know you'd know you would be happy, and you wouldn't mind staying awhile.

[lrfox]

I think Providence is a good middle point. They have easy access to RIPTA and the MBTA Commuter Rail (To Boston) and they have everything the city has to offer with a reasonable commute to Kingston.

I'd suggest almost anywhere on the East Side (area surrounding Brown U. and RISD), but depending on your budget it may be a little too steep. Federal Hill is a nice, vibrant neighborhood as well. It's got an Italian history and that influence is still very visible today. There are parts of Federal Hill that are lovely, and there are parts to avoid (others on here could educate you further than I can). Parts of Pawtucket are nice as well and will put you in within easy reach of all Providence has to offer via Mass Transit (RIPTA).

[CoventryDude]

Don't overlook Connecticut, you can live near Route 395 and have a shot straight up to Worcestor and take 138 to URI......

[ljmg47]

I agree that Washington County is a long commute to Boston but there are some nice places in Hope Valley that are about 25 minutes from URI and near 95N. There are 4 condominium townhouses currently for sale at Lindhbrook (Route 95 Exit 2 in RI) - nice rural area on a golf course but five minutes from the interstate. Check RILiving.com for Hopkinton condominiums.

[jakedog1]

Kingston where URI is located has an Acela to boston (along with regular trains) West kingstown is cheap as far as South County goes and only one of you would have to commute. West Kingston is pretty rural. You can also go out 138 from there to 95 to pretty much anywhere. If it were me I would only want one of us to commute but I am a native and pretty much object to traveling long distance by car on a regular basis.
With and annual income around 100K you can probably get a decent place anywhere around here. But be aware that everything costs a bit more in these parts.
On the weekend (the only time I go) from Northern Narragansett to being right under Boston is approx 1hr15min.