Massachusetts has better schools generally. The houses are more expensive. Logan has more direct flights but also more traffic. Boston Pops. The Gardner. Harvard and MIT: two power houses. More accessible to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Boston accent. Higher percentage of people with irish ancestry. They have favorite foods but nothing uniquely only theirs. Sports teams are legendary.

Comparing real estate taxes is tricky. If the rate is lower but the price is higher for example. But Massachusetts nickname is “Taxachusetts.”

Average income in Rhode Island’s wealthiest town (W Greenich) in $126k. Average income in Massachusetts wealthiest town (Dover) is $373k.

Rhode Island is a foodie’s heaven and there is the bonus of living closer to the ocean than most areas in Massachusetts. It has Newport. We have the prestige of Brown. Everyplace is expensive but Rhode Island is still generally more affordable than Massachusetts. There’s waterfire. Lower average income. The hospitals in RI don’t measure up to MGH, Dana Farber, Brighham. There is some mafia presemce. The people tend to be unfriendly to outsiders. There are rivalries between towns that carry into the work place in the form of grudges. Rhode Islanders keep grudges forever. Rhode Islanders love Del’s, coffee milk, NY system hot dogs, and pizza strips. Higher percentage of people with italian ancestry.

Both states love Dunkin.

I’m ok with down votes. I lived 20 years in one, 10 years in the other. This was my experience.