OT - Providence, RI

The choice is not a choice between a job on Providence and a job elsewhere.

It's between "Providence which we might or might not instantly like" and "unemployment in Michigan".

So, why not ask this question "what's the best way for my family to enjoy life if I have a job at Brown." The people answering "close to Boston and NYC, although qute correct, are not parents, I'm guessing.

Tell us more about what keeps your family happy

Providence is beautiful around Brown University. The city is a state capitol as well so it has nice attractions. You can take the train to Boston or nyc for under $20 as well for a quick day trip. A lot of history. Don't know about the winters, though.

I grew up in SE Michigan, went to UM, lived in London and San Francisco, and now live in a suburb about 15 mins south of Providence. RI is a nice state- small and parochial, but lots to do nearby. We have been here 10 years and have no plans to leave. Public schools in Providence itself can be dicey- similar to most cities. Winters are better that Michigan. It is warmer overall, but even when cold, we get a lot more sun which helps the overall mood. Best of luck! Go blue.

I was at Brown for a couple years of grad school (just came back a year ago.) Personally, I didn't like Providence. HOWEVA, I was coming from Chicago, and I think I expected Providence to feel much more like a big city. I would personally describe it as feeling slightly to moderately larger than Ann Arbor - with some parts with really great history and architecture that AA doesn't have, and some parts that are pretty fucking run-down to frankly depressing. That said, it's probably a better place to have a family than to, uh, be there without a family. And, generally speaking, New England is a far prettier place than the Midwest - there's much more to do outdoors than there is in the immediate area around Ann Arbor say (not to mention Chicago.) Some of my friends in grad school really liked the place. Also, Rhodies are an interesting group - incredibly provincial about their little corner of the country, but in an endearing way. Almost invariably, they seemed pissy and unfriendly ... for about 10 seconds. After that, they're generally as friendly as any small town Midwesterner. Weather-wise, I'd say the climate is preferable to lower Michigan or Chicago. Thanks to the ocean, winters are not quite as cold and summers are not quite as hot. There's a bit more rain, but I wouldn't say it's like Chicago. Oh, and they are honestly the worst drivers on Earth. All that said - if your wife isn't looking for a job, or if she's already got one lined up, I'd find it hard to turn down working for Brown if I were you. Some profs and grad students at Brown commute from Boston, too, so that might be a consideration (I have a hard time imagining anyone getting a job in RI - the economy is like Michigan's, only where we have the auto industry, they have ... textile mills. Harder to envision a comeback, at this point.) Pros: being by the ocean, general NE beautifulness, pretty good people, killer diners for breakfast Cons: Much of the rest of the food scene vastly overrated, not the safest city around (in such a small city, the nasty areas are very close to the nice ones), bit of a tired, run-down vibe. Finally, be forewarned: when you register your car in RI, you will have to pay an annual excise tax on your car that varies by city but is around 6% of the current value of your car. Seriously. Every fucking year, it's like paying MI sales tax on your car. You will find yourself wondering where that money is spent, also. Hold out from registering your car there if it is in any way possible.

I worked there for a little over a year, very nice city and like the other posters said still close to a lot of good activities. The beaches are nice down around Narraganset and Maine to the north is close by.

And there is Tom Brady and the Patriots just across the state line.

No. I said and the Patriots, just an added bonus.

A nice place, in most ways. There are great restaurants, especially if you like Italian food, but also a diverse offering of ethnic cuisine. Lots of history, if you appreciate that kind of thing, and there are a lot of beautiful 18th and 19th century houses in the city itself.

It's a small city, though, and a bit provincial in the sense that most people who live there never really leave the state. But it's nice.  Great seasonal weather too...4 almost perfectly even seasons.

The one drawback is that the public schools aren't good.