Forget Oakland Or Hoboken. Worcester, Mass., Is The New 'It' Town (Shrewsbury: appliances, living)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Huh, my friends who live in Pawtucket adore it, but hey, my friends who live in South Providence like it too and all I see is crap talked about it on here.

Then move there.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Then move there.

Not until I build more equity, and they are a bit more of a homebody than me, but if I could do it over I would have picked another part of Providence.


A lady friend pays, with a friend of hers, $850 total for a two bedroom (rental) in South Providence near Roger Williams Park and absolutely adores her neighborhood. I probably would have been able to buy a lot more their for the money.

The Pawtucket neighborhoods I've visited people in a perfectly fine, clean, suburban streets. I run through some more urban run down parts, but like most places, they're a mix.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Not until I build more equity, and they are a bit more of a homebody than me, but if I could do it over I would have picked another part of Providence.


A lady friend pays, with a friend of hers, $850 total for a two bedroom (rental) in South Providence near Roger Williams Park and absolutely adores her neighborhood. I probably would have been able to buy a lot more their for the money.

You know there is a good reason it is cheap, right?

Originally Posted by timberline742

The Pawtucket neighborhoods I've visited people in a perfectly fine, clean, suburban streets. I run through some more urban run down parts, but like most places, they're a mix.

If you stay east of Newport Ave. you are OK. However, the city's reputation is well earned.

[QuilterChick]

Much of "Darlington" has gone to the dogs. Some areas well west of Newport Av., such a 'western' Benefit St. and 'western" Central Av. are hanging in there. Won't be long until Countryside areas have a steep drop in attractions.

If someone works in Pawtucket or East Providence, and wants to be close in, then they could also find some patches of neighborhoods in East Providence to live in and feel safer. I would not want to come home in the dark after work alone in many areas in RI.

A 2 BR apt. in the Elmwood area of Providence for $850/mo. must be a real sweetie.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by massnative71

You know there is a good reason it is cheap, right?
.

Yes, the housing stock is a bit run down (though it seems money is pouring into her neighborhood) and there are lots of POC so lots of people won't rent or buy there suppressing demand.

Originally Posted by QuilterChick

A 2 BR apt. in the Elmwood area of Providence for $850/mo. must be a real sweetie.

I don't know the neighborhood name, just that its a couple of blocks from the park. I've been to dinner there several times, seems totally fine. Not walkable to enough things for my taste but, but her roommate has been in that neighborhood years, and her a couple, and both like it a lot. She is not one for nightlife though, so the non walkability isn't a big thing, she is a teacher and pretty sedate. No issues at all.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Huh, my friends who live in Pawtucket adore it, but hey, my friends who live in South Providence like it too and all I see is crap talked about it on here.

I was one one of these people ... when I was 24. Now I enjoy not having dirt bag neighbors who have the cops showing up at 3am for a DV call. I have a handful of friends in North and Pawtucket and while, crashing there after a Met show is convenient, if I lived there I suspect I'd be on antidepressants in short order ... what a dismal environment.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

I was one one of these people ... when I was 24. Now I enjoy not having dirt bag neighbors who have the cops showing up at 3am for a DV call. I have a handful of friends in North and Pawtucket and while, crashing there after a Met show is convenient, if I lived there I suspect I'd be on antidepressants in short order ... what a dismal environment.

This.


Between that and having your vehicle side swept by unlicensed drivers, regularly being stuck behind people at S&S who go over their EBT limit, to needles and dirty diapers in the parking lot...think I'm all set.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Um ... Holden, Shrewsbury, Boylston, Paxton, Grafton?

All of these towns have good to excellent school systems and, with the exception of Paxton, access to the eastern MA job market. What are comparable school systems in greater Prov? Barrington is great but the COL is obscene.

I'd quibble about Barrington COL. The median price per square foot in Barrington is $271 and it's a lot lower in the less prestigious neighborhoods in the north part of town. Shrewsbury is $247. Property taxes are higher in Barrington but it's not "obscene".


The metro Providence economy remains in the dumpster so it hasn't seen the housing price spike of the Worcester 'burbs closest to all the 495 jobs. Barrington is a bit too far to consider PVD commuter rail to Back Bay Station or South Station jobs. A 20 minute bus ride to the train station that's not completely deterministic. It's not like College Hill where you can walk.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The metro Providence economy remains in the dumpster so it hasn't seen the housing price spike of the Worcester 'burbs closest to all the 495 jobs. Barrington is a bit too far to consider PVD commuter rail to Back Bay Station or South Station jobs. A 20 minute bus ride to the train station that's not completely deterministic. It's not like College Hill where you can walk.

I did work with a guy who commuted from Barrington to Framingham. But no, it's generally not considered a feasible commute. I would probably blow my head off.

[QuilterChick]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Yes, the housing stock is a bit run down (though it seems money is pouring into her neighborhood) and there are lots of POC so lots of people won't rent or buy there suppressing demand.

I don't know the neighborhood name, just that its a couple of blocks from the park. I've been to dinner there several times, seems totally fine. Not walkable to enough things for my taste but, but her roommate has been in that neighborhood years, and her a couple, and both like it a lot. She is not one for nightlife though, so the non walkability isn't a big thing, she is a teacher and pretty sedate. No issues at all.

Slater Park has a few entrances/exits. Back 'in the day' those neighborhoods were fine; mainly about 15 years ago, and several places in the late 90's took a real slide. I can't imagine anywhere for $850/mo. that could be any good honestly.