Things You Should Know Before Moving to Providence, RI - Movers.com
Home > Moving Guides > Moving to City Guides and Tips > Rhode Island > Things You Should Know Before Moving to Providence, RI

Things You Should Know Before Moving to Providence, RI

  5.0/5 based on 1 visitor(s)
views  915 Views

The capital and most populous city in Rhode Island, Providence is famous for its clams, its coffee, and its historic architecture. The city is teeming with pre-revolutionary history, university culture supplied by its Ivy League institution Brown University, and delicious New England seafood delicacies served in numerous chowder houses and clam shacks.

If you are planning or considering a move to this exciting city, this guide will provide you with some helpful tips to make your transition a smooth and easy one.

Providence Climate

The city has a humid continental climate, experiencing warm summers, cold winters, and year-round humidity. Because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the city remains warmer than most inland New England regions.

Don't forget to pack your umbrella, because Providence receives ample precipitation all year. Rain is the heaviest in the spring, and lightest in the summer. The winters are considerably snowy, due to the frequency of powerful nor'easters and blizzards.

Providence Neighborhoods

When planning a move to a new city, it's imperative to research its distinct neighborhoods to find the one that is best suited for you. Providence is divided into several regions that are comprised of its 25 official neighborhoods.

Federal Hill, the city's authentic Italian neighborhood, is known for its delicious eateries and Mafia ties. Downtown Providence (also referred to as Downcity) is abundant in historic Victorian architecture, art galleries and events, and is the central economic, cultural and political district in the city. College Hill is the city's university neighborhood, home to the Ivy League Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. It boasts 18th century architecture, numerous independent shops and businesses, cafes, restaurants and the Avon Cinema-- an Art Dec theatre which screens foreign and indie films.

Registering Your Car

Once you have moved to Rhode Island, you will need to register your vehicle in the state and obtain a new title within 30 days. Liability insurance is mandatory --make sure your provider operates in the state. Within five days of registering your vehicle, you must have it inspected.

You have up to 30 days after moving to the state to transfer your driver's license as well. You will need your former driver's license, Social Security card, proof of identification, and proof of residency. If your out of state license has been expired more than one year, you will have to take the knowledge and road tests.

Providence Schools

Before moving to a new city with children, you will want to ensure that they have access to optimum schools. If you are considering a move to Providence, public education is served by the Providence Public School District, which operates 47 facilities and educates about 30,000 students. The graduation rate in the city is 70 percent--the same level as the current national average.

There are also a number of private and charter schools to choose from, such as the Wheeler School, the Lincoln School, Time Squared Academy and Textron Chamber of Commerce. For higher education, notable universities include the public Rhode Island College, the private Roman Catholic Providence College, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the Ivy League school Brown University.

Providence Employment

If you're relocating to the city looking for work, there are a variety of industries to seek employment. Providence is the center for the industrial, commercial, medical, and financial sectors in New England, and is a major supplier of silverware, jewelry, electrical equipment, textiles, fabricated metals, rubber and plastics, machinery, instruments, and supplies for the federal government and Department of Defense. As the capital of Rhode Island, the city also supplies a number of government jobs.

Top employers in the city include Rhode Island Hospital, Bank of America, Citizen's Bank, Verizon, Brown University, Women & Infant's Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and Roger Williams Medical Center. Fortune 500 company Textron and Fortune 1000 company Nortek Incorporated are also headquartered in the city.

Living Costs in the City

Living in Providence may cost you a bit more than you are used to-- average expenses are 23 percent higher than the typical American city. Healthcare costs are 16 percent greater, transportation costs are five percent greater, and groceries are 11 percent higher than the national average. Housing is the highest expense you will incur when moving to the city--it is 32 percent more expensive to rent or buy in Providence than the average city.

One-bedroom apartments in the city rent for about $825 a month, and two-bedrooms are around $1000. The median home price in the city is listed at $167,000.

Providence Moving Resources

There are numerous moving and storage companies located in Providence that are waiting to help you relocate to your new home. Be sure to do your research and obtain estimates from several different services before choosing one for hire. You can compare online quotes from many different moving companies and other services to aid you in your move, whether you are coming from the next city or overseas. Visit the following pages here at Movers.com to get fast quotes for the following services:

Providence Transportation

Local public transit in the city is operated by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). Buses depart from Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence, as well as Greyhound and Peter Pan bus lines. RIPTA also operates a line of tourist trolleys called Providence LINK, which shuttle passengers around the downtown area.

Rail service in the city is supplied by Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail, which depart from Providence Station, located between the Rhode Island State House and the downtown district. As of 2013, a light rail system for the city was in the planning stages.

Culture and Contemporary Life

If you love food and coffee, this city may be the place for you! Providence has more coffee shops and restaurants per capita than any other American city. Dine on authentic Italian in the ethnic neighborhood of Federal Hill; enjoy some linguica, chourico sausage and other Portuguese fare in Fox Point; and dine on numerous New England clam-centric seafood specialties such as clam chowder, stuffies (a hard-shell quahog clam stuffed with chourico) and clam cakes (quahog fritters battered and fried).

The city is rich with history, with many preserved buildings and old architecture. The East Side neighborhood features pre-revolutionary homes, the oldest Baptist church in the country, and the Old State House--the state's capitol from 1762 to 1904. Westminster Arcade, located in downtown Providence, is the oldest enclosed shopping center in the country. If you are fascinated by literary history, visit the Providence Athenaeum, the fourth oldest library in the nation which was often frequented by famed gothic authors Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft.

Providence Relocation Tips

  • Prepare for the snow and rain! Providence receives ample precipitation year-round, and plenty of nor'easters and blizzards in the cold winter months. Be sure to come equipped with rain gear, umbrellas, and snow boots. You may also want to invest in a snow blower for your property and snow tires for your vehicle.
  • You should always begin planning for your move several months in advance. Before you relocate to Providence, you will need to compare quotes from several moving companies before you choose one for hire. Start searching movers right now at Movers.com!
  • Before making the trek to a new city, you should always downsize your belongings for a more economical move. Donate unwanted items to charity, have a yard sale, or sell some of your more valuable possessions online.

Nicole La Capria  Posted by Nicole La Capria on May 28, 2013

Rate this guide Things You Should Know Before Moving to Providence, RI