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The OP would be advised to take some of the detractors with a grain of salt. One does not even live in the state but is constantly here to denigrate it. Has a very anti RI obsession that borders on a sickness. Keep this in mind.
"I think this is in large part due progressive policies that have made a lot of folks not feel welcome in their own state anymore."
Of course it was a racist reference. Who wouldn't feel welcome in "their" own state anymore? Descendants of the original Native Americans? Probably not.
Of course it was a racist reference. Who wouldn't feel welcome in "their" own state anymore? Descendants of the original Native Americans? Probably not.
I recently received a really great job offer in Rhode Island. I'll be moving with my spouse from a large city on the west coast. This is a fairly permanent position, so it'd be a long-term move. At first I was really excited about the opportunity--it's the east coast and close to Boston, so I figured it'd be a great spot. Unfortunately, everything I read about Rhode Island in these "moving to Rhode Island" posts or Youtube videos paint it as a really depressing place to live--it's small, corrupt, the schools are bad, there's nothing to do, no jobs, the only people that live there were born there, etc. I guess that brings me to my first question... is it really that bad?
With that aside, we're definitely city people. I assume that means we want to live in Providence? It's really important to us that our house is within walking distance of good restaurants, coffee shops, local shops, etc. Does anyone have advice on neighborhoods with those amenities (in Providence or elsewhere)? It seems like the commercial areas around Brown are very college-y, which maybe isn't super interesting. Downtown looks somewhat barren by Google street view
Alternatively, are there other areas we should be looking at? Looking at Redfin, we can afford to purchase basically everywhere in Rhode Island, but I assume non-Providence areas are more suburban, which isn't too interesting to us. Are there communities in MA that are somewhat close that are interesting? Or are they suburbs too?
I guess lastly, if we purchased a place in Back Bay in Boston and I commute to Rhode Island (work is south of Providence), would I hate my life? Is that even doable? It seems like the train from Back Bay to Providence is an hour, but I'd probably have another 25 minute drive once I arrive in Providence.
It's a part of the country I really don't know much about other than Boston and NYC, so any help would be appreciated.
If I were you, I'd look for a house on the East Side of Providence (generally east of Hope St. in the Blackstone neighborhood). You'll need a good budget 600- 2million but you can get a gorgeous house in a great community that is near cultural attractions, restaurants, shopping, libraries, museums, etc. Everyone I know who lives in this area loves it. It's full of professionals and families. I strongly recommend you visit this area and make up your own mind.
Don't even think about commuting. There are plenty of lovey places to live in this area.
This forum has become ridiculously negative and no longer represents people who love it here. Anyone who dares to post a positive comment gets jumped on mostly by out of staters (ironically from Boston and we do get an influx of them moving here) Believe me, there are many who find RI very desirable!!
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,938 posts, read 36,930,903 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MMS02760
The OP would be advised to take some of the detractors with a grain of salt. One does not even live in the state but is constantly here to denigrate it. Has a very anti RI obsession that borders on a sickness. Keep this in mind.
None of the negative ones live in the state. Most never have.
I think the OP has already made the smart decision. 41st in public schools? With MA, CT, VT, and NH all in the top 10? With the highest poverty rate in New England? With the 6th highest tax burden in the country? Folks, it was never really a tough call.
If I were you, I'd look for a house on the East Side of Providence (generally east of Hope St. in the Blackstone neighborhood). You'll need a good budget 600- 2million but you can get a gorgeous house in a great community that is near cultural attractions, restaurants, shopping, libraries, museums, etc. Everyone I know who lives in this area loves it. It's full of professionals and families. I strongly recommend you visit this area and make up your own mind.
Don't even think about commuting. There are plenty of lovey places to live in this area.
This forum has become ridiculously negative and no longer represents people who love it here. Anyone who dares to post a positive comment gets jumped on mostly by out of staters (ironically from Boston and we do get an influx of them moving here) Believe me, there are many who find RI very desirable!!
Don't you think this forum might be more representative of "people who love it" there if there were more than 8 of you. It's never a good sign for a place to have more detractors than supporters. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
People from out-of-state come here looking for accurate information.
PureBoston's posts, while usually factually correct, are misleading in that they give an overall wrong impression of the state.
Hollytree's posts are equally (if not more) misleading in that she goes out of her way to try to hide/bury anything negative.
Bottom line: It's not all doom and gloom as PureBoston portrays it, and it's not all sunshine and lollipops as Hollytree would like you to believe. There are problems here...but, in my opinion, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Rhode Island, generally speaking, is a very nice place to live if you can find employment (and you stay away from the Providence ghettos).
People from out-of-state come here looking for accurate information.
PureBoston's posts, while usually factually correct, are misleading in that they give an overall wrong impression of the state.
Hollytree's posts are equally (if not more) misleading in that she goes out of her way to try to hide/bury anything negative.
Bottom line: It's not all doom and gloom as PureBoston portrays it, and it's not all sunshine and lollipops as Hollytree would like you to believe. There are problems here...but, in my opinion, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Rhode Island, generally speaking, is a very nice place to live if you can find employment (and you stay away from the Providence ghettos).
I am answering the OP. He has a job offer and is looking for a nice neighborhood. I am recommending what I think would work for him. I have 30+ years in this state at various locations.
Anyone who has followed my posts knows that I don't go out of my way to "bury anything negative". Utter baloney.
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