Pawtucket benefits more than most from its proximity to Providence (10 minutes) and Boston (45 minutes). While Pawtucket can be charming on its own, its greatest strength is easy access to the ocean, cities, culture, entertainment, colleges/universities, and everything else just a short bike or ride away. All this proximity makes a small town feel much larger with the easy access to all these big city amenities.

If you’re counting on the city proper to provide you with all your cultural and commercial experiences, you’ll be disappointed. An arts and entertainment thing is going on here, but ultimately, you’ll need to get in your car and drive to get a full dose of culture, outdoor lifestyle, and city experiences. 

Proximity

LookyLOO Review of Pawtucket? 

There isn’t a ton to do here but there are nice suburban neighborhoods, like East Ave and Central Ave, made up primarily of pre-World War II homes. Many who want to dodge the rising costs of Providence, or insane costs of Boston (longer commute), but live in a good home, have chosen Pawtucket as their escape valve. 

If you want to see what's happening in Pawtucket check out the [calendar of events](https://www.pawtuckettimes.com/local-events/).

We highly recommend visiting Pawtucket and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

Pawtucket is close to the booming tech and healthcare industries of New England which makes it economically powerful via proximity. While housing costs can move up or down a bit, the reliability of housing prices in cities with colleges and universities, plus a massive healthcare industry, provides some downside protection if the overall economy shifts as they tend to be recession proof. If you stay awhile you’ll benefit from a recently started $400m development on the waterfront that includes: a new multi-use stadium for a professional soccer team, expanded waterfront, workforce housing, hotel and commercial office space. A burgeoning economy within reach, lower housing prices + downside protection = smart choice. 


New England Economy

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**GlitteryPusheen**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Got Bread + Milk ❄️
I live in Pawtucket and I love it, but I am aware of the downsides.

Pros:

Walkability! Most neighborhoods have shops, restaurants, and parks. Walkability has allowed me to meet neighbors and feel more integrated in the community-- like, I meet neighbors on walks or at the park, and I've gotten to know the folks who work at the bodega and restaurants in my neighborhood.

Property is cheaper than most surrounding communities. It is gentrifying, but it's cheaper than Providence, Lincoln, Cumberland, East Prov, etc.

By US standards our transit system is okay. In most parts of Pawtucket you can get a bus to Prov or the train station every 15-20 minutes.

Slater Park is a fantastic part of our city!

We have some damn good food in Pawtucket! Garden Grille, Miss Lorraine, Shish Kebab, Wildflour, and Maria's (yes I know Maria's relocated to Lincoln but it's literally just over the line & the OG Maria's was in Pawtucket.)

For more reviews of what living in Pawtucket is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/pawtucket/reviews).

Reviews of Pawtucket from Locals

**The Best Thing About Pawtucket?**   Proximity

Pawtucket benefits more than most from its proximity to Providence (10 minutes) and Boston (45 minutes). While Pawtucket can be charming on its own it’s greatest strength is easy access to the ocean, cities, culture, entertainment, colleges/universities and everything else just a short bike or ride away. All this proximity makes a small city feel much larger with the easy access to all these big city amenities. 

**The Worst Thing About Pawtucket?**  It’s More Of A Town/Neighborhood

If you’re counting on the city proper to provide you with all your cultural and commercial experiences you’ll be disappointed. There is an arts and entertainment thing going on here but ultimately you’ll need to get in your car and drive to get a full dose of culture, outdoor lifestyle, and city experiences. 

**How You Living?**  In A Nice Home

There isn’t a ton to do here but there are nice suburban neighborhoods, like East Ave and Central Ave, made up primarily of pre-World War II homes. Many who want to dodge the rising costs of Providence, or insane costs of Boston (longer commute), but live in a good home, have chosen Pawtucket as their escape valve. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  New England Economy

Pawtucket is close to the booming tech and healthcare industries of New England which makes it economically powerful via proximity. While housing costs can move up or down a bit, the reliability of housing prices in cities with colleges and universities, plus a massive healthcare industry, provides some downside protection if the overall economy shifts as they tend to be recession proof. If you stay awhile you’ll benefit from a recently started $400m development on the waterfront that includes: a new multi-use stadium for a professional soccer team, expanded waterfront, workforce housing, hotel and commercial office space. A burgeoning economy within reach, lower housing prices + downside protection = smart choice. 


Pawtucket is primarily a family/bedroom community that “feeds” Providence, or even Boston for the adventurous commuters. If you’re young and single or a couple and you want to live near some degree of commercial area then you’re probably downtown. There are some apartment and condo options here and bars and restaurants within walking distance. The big advantage Pawtucket has over Providence or even more Boston is much lower prices on housing. 
- Downtown 


Young Professionals

Downtown

East Avenue is one of the nicest (and most expensive) neighborhoods in Pawtucket that generally serves families that enjoy the big homes, tree-lined blocks and plenty of green spaces available for kids to play. Countryside, which borders Seekonk, MA is another nice area. Great walkable blocks with big homes, nice yards, and wrap-around porches bring the community together. 
- East Avenue
- Countryside
- Darlington
- Quality Hill
- Oak Hill


Families

East Avenue

Pawtucket

**GlitteryPusheen**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Got Bread + Milk ❄️
I live in Pawtucket and I love it, but I am aware of the downsides.

Pros:

Walkability! Most neighborhoods have shops, restaurants, and parks. Walkability has allowed me to meet neighbors and feel more integrated in the community-- like, I meet neighbors on walks or at the park, and I've gotten to know the folks who work at the bodega and restaurants in my neighborhood.

Property is cheaper than most surrounding communities. It is gentrifying, but it's cheaper than Providence, Lincoln, Cumberland, East Prov, etc.

By US standards our transit system is okay. In most parts of Pawtucket you can get a bus to Prov or the train station every 15-20 minutes.

Slater Park is a fantastic part of our city!

We have some damn good food in Pawtucket! Garden Grille, Miss Lorraine, Shish Kebab, Wildflour, and Maria's (yes I know Maria's relocated to Lincoln but it's literally just over the line & the OG Maria's was in Pawtucket.)

**2ndharrybhole**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I lived in my cities and towns throughout the northeast before moving to Pawtucket… it’s literally fine - it feels just like any outer neighborhood in large city as opposed to its own town ( which makes sense given its connection to Providence). I’m sure there’s heightened crime since you have more people, more poverty and worse schools. But, you can certainly live your life normally and 99% of the time have no issues or danger. The only incidents if seen/heard are two drug deals and two car accident. No violent or aggressive crimes at all.

I will absolutely agree that many parts of Pawtucket looks bleak and depressing, but others are gorgeous the million dollar homes. I also have zero reason to go downtown when I’m so close to hope street.

**Butwaittheresmore2it**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Grew up in Darlington. If you're going to do Pawtucket, Pinecrest and Darlington are the way to go. (Always walked to Pinecrest for trick or treating. It's the best there.) You'll have to deal with the school zone cameras and everything, but there's a lot in walking distance, it's peaceful for a city-ish area, Slater Park is really close ... It's good. I'd do it if able. It's home to me though. So I'm biased.

**What is it like to live in Pawtucket, RI? What advice would you give to a 21 year old Californian thinking of moving there?**

Well, Rhode Island has pluses and minuses, but I’d be fascinated to know: why Pawtucket specifically?

Pawtucket is, for the most part, a city with a lot of substandard housing options, relatively high crime rates, and not much to look at in terms of beauty. It is close to Providence (a bonus), and conveniently located right next to a major highway (a bonus), but so are other cities in Rhode Island, including Providence - which at least has some better options, and more to do and see.

But if there is something about Pawtucket specifically that leaves you really yearning to move there, my advice would be to:

Try to line up a job first is at all possible - Providence is not exactly the hottest job market anyway, so better to try and arrange something where you will get a little leeway on a start date that lets you move out
Find housing - the best parts of Pawtucket (such as they are) tend to be closer to the state line in Massachusetts. If you see an apartment in Pawtucket that looks cheap, odds are good there’s a reason.
This goes doubly so if you see something in nearby Central Falls - just avoid that if you can
Get ready for a little culture shock. There is very little out here that has even vague similarities with California - from the weather, to the culture, to the accents
So that’s my advice. Welcome to the Ocean State! Look forward to you moving here!

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

A Tale Of Two States

Looklyloo Score: 86