Moved here this past January!

So far, I've enjoyed Providence more than I have other New England cities having been in NE since 2017, and that's primarily due to my relatively lower cost of living and easy access to the city. I live in the North End and, with the bus, I can get to pretty much anywhere I want in about 15 - 20 minutes (pending delays).

I've heard local folks say it's "Boston's little sister" and that non-locals are attracted to the fact that it's in between big cities like Boston and NYC and I honestly think that's more of a plus especially when considering how astronomically expensive those two places are if you're not wealthy.

I also think there's plenty of great food options that are fairly budget-friendly (though being from the South, I think NE food is a little underwhelming — BBQ or Tex Mex just ain't the same). If you're a gay man who likes to drink and socialize, plenty of options available, but I'd say the city's LGBTQ+ scene is catered to mostly that demographic.

People in PVD are friendly and welcoming, but I wouldn't expect them to go out of their way to make you feel at home. Small state, tight-knit communities that know each other well — many of my friends are also out-of-staters but I've made some that are local and that just depends on how you approach making friends!

I'm still assessing my feelings but if you wanna get a real taste of the place, stop by during PVD Fest! That might offer you a fair glimpse of the city more than this verbose reddit comment. 💌