More questions about Providence... (Warwick, Cranston: best city, houses, job market)

[Hollytree]

You could live in Cranston, Warwick, East Providence, on your budget and you should probably look for a house in the under 300K range. These towns are all close in. They have decent elementary schools depending on the exact neighborhood. (You can check individual schools on the ratings websites online) Try RIliving.com to get an idea of house prices. It will also give you info on taxes. Barrington and East Greenwich are also usually cited as good school systems but are tough on the budget. The East Side of Providence is very nice and has much convenience but the public schools are not recommended.

Hope this helps a bit- since you're only 3 hrs away, I'd definitely urge a visit to scope out neighborhoods and towns since atmosphere is so subjective and there is a town in RI to suit every taste from rural to urban to suburban! You could decide to live in a rural town (Foster, Glocester, Scituate, Exeter) and still be only 30 mins away from Prov. There is a lot to see packed into a small area.

[GermanSpy]

Originally Posted by Rnrboy

Not to nitpick, but I assume then you are saying that there are more interesting smaller cities? I am genuinely curious because I often find your posts informative.

Yes, indeed. I was thinking about cities like Burlington in Vermont, for example, which I find a bit more appealing than Providence. Could be personal preference though.

[Rnrboy]

Yikes! Burlington? Don't get me wrong, Burlington's great and all. But it's got nowhere near the culture or atmosphere of Providence. Apples and oranges!

But I'll admit, it's all subjective I guess.

[Jenkins86]

My main thoughts on small cities like Burlington, Portland Maine, Portsmouth NH that many people like a lot (and I do too) is that they are very small, and may be more quaint or clean than Providence, but they lack the total offerings that Providence has when it comes to the arts, restaurants, amenities, etc.

[CaseyB]

The last several posts have been way off topic and not helpful to the original poster who's looking for relocation information.


Griffis, in addition to the areas that Hollytree mentioned, there are a few towns in southern Mass. that you may want to look into.

[Griffis]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

The last several posts have been way off topic and not helpful to the original poster who's looking for relocation information.


Griffis, in addition to the areas that Hollytree mentioned, there are a few towns in southern Mass. that you may want to look into.

Thanks CaseyB, but I'm enjoying it all and find it all informative.

Really appreciate all the responses and am still open for more.

I've been doing some research into this job and I'm beginning to think I may actually have a decent chance at it, although I have no idea how many applicants they'll be getting materials from.

Send me your luck!

[Griffis]

I thought of one other thing I'm curious about--what is the general feeling about Mayor Cicilline?

I don't know much at all about him, but the news coverage I've seen appears to be pretty positive.

[Avavti]

Hollytree-what you wrote was very helpful. I'm hoping to move to RI. I live in NJ and am sending out resume's to different companies up in the Providence area and surrounding ones also. I am concerned about private health insurance. In case there's a problem with a job. I'm a 40 yr old woman and would like to be able to go out to dinner...some culture. I've got a dog and am very involved with dog rescue down here in Jersey. And would like to find a rescue team up there.Nancy

[Hollytree]

hello Nancy,

I guess the first thing is to find a job, then look for a nearby community.

Afraid I don't know anything about dogs or very much about the private health insurance problem- only, of course, that it is problematic everywhere in this country so I wouldn't expect RI to be any different.

Dinner I can speak to!! We're loaded with restaurants and known for good food- gourmet and otherwise. Johnson & Wales's culinary division graduates many chefs.

[NY Annie]

If I were moving back to RI now, kids all grown, I'd be looking in the catholic triangle - that area off Smith Street, to the west of downtown, defined in a triangle from Providence College to LaSalle Academy, streets: Huxley to Academy, Mooreland to Eaton and a little past LaSalle along Smith Street both for renting a house/apt or buying. If I had kids, I'd head to South Kingstown, PeaceDale, Wakefield area and down near the hospital for ease of the kids getting to places. The schools in SK are among the best in the state. There's also bus service from Wakefield to Providence (45 min commute). North Kingstown would be my 3rd choice and Warwick after that.

I lived in all those places and each has something special about it.