If walkability is important to you, I’d stay as close to downtown as possible. There are newer complexes downtown and just outside of downtown. The east side is walkable but it’s the most expensive neighborhood in the city. I live in the Federal Hill neighborhood. Walking distance to downtown with a lot of restaurants. It’s getting pricey and it’s a little loud. One area on the upswing that borders downtown is the Kinsley Ave area. They are renovating a lot of old industrial buildings over there. Some loft type developments and they do an indoor farmers market. That’s the only area of Providence that reminds me even slightly of Austin.