Any suburb in that area would be good. Brockton, New Bedford, and Fall River are your dingy and crime-ridden cities, but know that no city in MA is truly that bad compared to other places in the US. It’s mostly downtown areas and the triple-decker neighborhoods abutting the downtown areas. You shouldn’t have a problem finding an affordable place though. For fun and nightlife, Providence is your go-to city, as well as Boston. Both are easy to get to. Also drive to the Cape during off season to enjoy the empty beaches.