Yeah. Some friends moved from Cambridge to Providence, and in Providence they're a five-minute walk from the train station. They can be at South Station in 45 – 50 minutes. They live in a nice, newly-constructed two-bedroom apartment that's a little more than half the cost of their previous, cramped Cambridge apartment.
I also have a lot more flexibility, for instance not needing to worry about catching the last train at night if I'm out with my friends or something like that.
For me, I'd rather pay more money for the proximity and flexibility but I agree that YMMV and that for others it makes a ton of sense to go to Providence. And really, I'd much rather go to Providence than a standard suburb because at least I get some of the benefits of urban life there.
There are 2 commuter rail stations and they're not connected. They are trying to connect though even with the advocacy of two former govenors, but the current government is resisting (http://www.northsouthraillink.org/).
I live in Cambridge MA and commute to Boston (3.5 miles by bike). The fastest I can get to longwood Boston is about 25 minutes on a bike. Bus is 45 minutes.
Coworkers that have spaces can get from just outside 128 to Boston in slightly over an hour.
The few places with decent access to the city the prices are going through the roof.
The north south connector will never happen, the big dig fiasco saw to that. :(
What did they spend on the "Big Dig"? 20 Billion dollars all said and done? "They" of course being the US tax payer who paid for it, not just Mass residents. Seems like that money might have been better spent on public transit infrastructure. So typical.
Taking a train, even when it takes 45 minutes, is a far cry from driving the same commute. It's a great gig if you can make it work.
Unfortunately, these are rare characteristics for urban transit systems.