my recollection of Battleboro is that riding from the center ish, arriving following a river I think, getting to the inexpensive motel, one of those motel 6 or something, there seemed to be quite a rough edge to the town. Just seemed that poverty and hardship wasnt that far away, at least in that part of town (which I realize every town and city has).
I might be wrong on my take on it, but thats my memory of Battleboro, probably formed by the heavily tattoed folks and such that I rode past that day.