Considering a move to Rhode Island...

[DangerousRhythm]

Hey everyone, I'm originally from New York, living in Texas right now and just can't stand it anymore! I must get back to my beloved Northeast and Rhode Island looks like a great, gorgeous place for me to go and it doesn't seem like it'd cost nearly as much to live there as it would NYC. I've been looking on Craigslist and I see apartments listed that will provide free electricity/heat... does anyone know if these are in a bad neighborhood or anything like that? I'm not familiar with the place at all, never been there once, so if anyone could tell me more about Rhode Island, practical things like where the economical but still safe places are to live, how well public transportation works, how much of a "walking" city Providence (for instance) might be, what jobs are like there, if there are lots of chains (like here in Texas) or if there are plenty of small businesses around...

I'm sure I have lots more questions but can't really think of anything else at the moment. I'd really appreciate any insight from native RIers! :D