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Gsquzared t1_iwizjpq wrote

You said you would be taking the commuter rail everyday, so I assume this wouldn't be a remote position. You really shouldn't underestimate the cost and time that goes into a commute from PVD to BOS, especially if it's downtown. I did a commute from just south of PVD to Jamaica Plain (south of Boston) for around three years, and you sacrifice a lot of time and flexibility to make that work. I chose to drive and it was 1-1.5h each way depending on traffic. I worked with people who did the commuter rail and it was expensive and they had to really adhere to the train schedules. You mentioned kids too which is another factor since you're not going to be able to do quick doctors appointments, let alone unexpected things for them. Providence is great, but commuting to Boston is not something to take lightly.

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Icy-Egg-7755 OP t1_iwj0qsp wrote

I hear that... It’s just Boston is way out of my price range.

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Gsquzared t1_iwj1bmg wrote

Yep. That's the dilemma. Even living in the Boston suburbs you're going to be commuting 30-45 minutes in traffic plus paying through the nose for housing. Just wanted to make sure you knew what you're signing up for. You can make it work, but it will wear on you.

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Mountain_Bill5743 t1_iwke39o wrote

OP, also keep in mind with kids that the school situation is complicated and requires a lot of research on its own BPS PPSD or all the towns inbetween. So, (depending on your preferences) you may be paying the difference into very expensive schools (New England has private school tuition on the level of private colleges).

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Icy-Egg-7755 OP t1_iwl1xil wrote

Ugh, good point. (How do people live here?)

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laterbacon t1_iwlb0fc wrote

Not to talk you out of Providence (I grew up here and I love it), but it might be worth looking into Attleboro. There's an MBTA stop downtown with a lot of recent development clustered around it, so you can easily get to Providence or Boston. It's also in Massachusetts, which has a much better school system overall and access to in-state UMASS benefits. Massachusetts also has the closest thing to universal healthcare that exists in the US right now.

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Icy-Egg-7755 OP t1_iwlbngl wrote

I haven’t been super impressed with Attleboro, but you make good points here. I’ll take a second look.

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laterbacon t1_iwlctnm wrote

It's one of those old small northeastern cities that was gutted when all the industry left, but it's definitely on the upswing recently. It has a really cute, relatively intact downtown with a ton of potential and a bunch of very recent development adjacent to the station. Capron Park and its little zoo is a really nice asset too. That said it's definitely way sleepier than Providence (but only a 20 minute train ride away). The bus system there is bad though.. GATRA makes RIPTA look like the Tokyo Metro

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Mountain_Bill5743 t1_iwmytf8 wrote

It's expensive. Double incomes typically and for higher paying jobs, buying housing 10 years ago, etc.

The reality is that everything from utilities to housing to car insurance is on the higher end. Your job offer hopefully reflects the most likely large CoL jump if its a Back Bay offer.

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Alternative-Bat-8453 t1_iwlt02k wrote

As someone that went to school in Boston and worked (commuting to Boston from PVD) don’t do it. The cost is so high now for the rail and the schedule kind of sucks. You’ll end up driving in and paying to park which can be $100’s/mth.

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Mindless-Rooster-533 t1_ixj0y60 wrote

The commuter rail is okay for an occasional use (I'd even say 2-3 times a week), but given there's one train per hour, and it over an hour of travel, and it's like 7$ each way, yeah I wouldn't commute to Boston.

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_iwj5ii9 wrote

J.P. is part of Boston friend. Not south of it.

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Gsquzared t1_iwj8us3 wrote

Right. Just trying to help someone not from the area. But yes since we're being pedantic - Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood south of downtown Boston.

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_iwj9fo0 wrote

Incorrectly referring to city limits and getting corrected is not about being pedantic. Esp when advising someone about where to live. City limits aren’t up for debate.

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