Moving to Massachusetts: Pros and Cons in 2025
If you’re thinking about moving to Massachusetts, you’re not alone. The Bay State atttacts newcomers for good reason! With bustling metropolitan areas like Boston and quiet rural towns, there’s a place to match your desired pace of life.
As much as there is to love about Massachusetts, it’s smart to weigh the good and the not-so-good before you buy a new home and pack up your belongings.
Here, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about moving to Massachusetts to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Pros & cons of living in Massachusetts
Like any big move, relocating to Massachusetts comes with its own upsides and potential downsides that are important to consider.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest pros and cons of living in the Bay State to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of living in MA
- ✓Natural beauty
- ✓Excellent education system
- ✓Delicious seafood
- ✓Bountiful recreational opportunities
- ✓Home to boston
Cons of living in MA
- ✖Bad traffic
- ✖Poor driving conditions
- ✖Harsh winter weather
- ✖High cost of living
- ✖Peculiar liquor laws
Things to do in Massachusetts
Whether you’re moving to Massachusetts work, family, or just a fresh start, you’ll want to get the most out of your new home state — and that includes finding fun things to do. The good news is that, no matter your interests, Massachusetts has lots of fun places to explore and things to do.
You can visit these places with your family or use them to meet new people if you’re alone. With so many choices, you’re sure to find something that suits you and makes you feel comfortable.
Popular Attractions in Massachusetts
- Freedom Trail
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Norman Rockwell Museum
- Cape Cod Beaches
- Fenway Park
- Nantucket
- Tanglewood Concerts
- Plimoth Patuxet Museums
- Old Sturbridge Village
- Salem Witch Museum
Museums in Massachusetts
- The House of the Seven Gables
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Plimoth Patuxet
- Whaling Museum
- John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum
- Hammond Castle Museum
- Springfield Museums
- Worcester Art Museum
- Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Parks in Massachusetts
- Stage Fort Park and Beach
- Salem Witch Trials Memorial
- Forest Park
- Cornelia Carey Sanctuary (The Knob)
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Boston Public Garden
- Taunton Green
- Prospect Hill Park
- Hemlock Gorge Reservation
- Nelson Memorial Park
Fun facts about Massachusetts
Each state has a unique character molded by its history, culture, and residents. Learning about its small details and quirky traditions helps you understand what life there is truly like.
These fun facts about Massachusetts, will give you a glimpse at what makes the state unique, and may even give you a few more reasons to make the move.
- The first post office in America opened in Boston in 1639.
- On March 10, 1876, it was here in Boston that the first telephone call was made when Alexander Graham Bell summoned his lab assistant, Thomas A. Watson. On the phone, he said, “Mr. Watson—come here—I want to see you.”
- The first subway in America was built in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897. Known as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway, it currently runs 78 miles long and has over 130 stations in the metro area. Thanks in large part to the robust subway system in the city, Boston has more pedestrian commuters than any other major city in the United States.
- Massachusetts and Missouri were the first states to require a driver’s license in 1903. The very first license plate issued by a state government (Number 1) was issued on September 1, 1903, to Frederick Tudor of Brookline.
- The first college for higher education was Harvard University, founded in Massachusetts in 1636. Also, the oldest school in America, called Boston Latin, was established in Boston in 1635—a year before Harvard University.
- The first lighthouse built in the United States was “Boston Light” located on Little Brewster Island in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States of America. Officially opening in 1634, the 50 acres of land is a common gathering place throughout the year. Due to its history, it has been home to a British camp before the American Revolutionary War, and a modern gathering place for speeches, protests, outdoor concerts and more.
- Dunkin Donuts opened its first franchise restaurant in Dedham, Massachusetts, and sold 52 varieties of donuts. The popularity of the donuts grew so much that the company by the year 1963 had opened its 100th restaurant.
- James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Naismith was a physical education teacher and wanted to engage his students in some physical activity while being indoors during the cold winter months. The game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to railings 10 feet above the floor.
- Furthermore, the game of volleyball finds its roots in Massachusetts as well. The game of volleyball, originally called “mintonette,” was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan.
- The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband in 1930 in the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts.
- According to a survey, Massachusetts is the most educated state in the country, because the state has a number of high – ranking state colleges and universities.
- The state was named by an English explorer and colonist John Smith, after the Massachuset tribe, whose name meant “near the great hill.”
Massachusetts population and demographics
While you’re thinking about relocating to Massachusetts, it’s important to look beyond facts and figures to get to the story they tell about the Bay State.
A state with more people might have more jobs, entertainment, and better infrastructure. On the other hand, a state with fewer people could mean a quieter lifestyle and close-knit communities.
Average education levels show the availability of job opportunities or access to local schools and colleges. Political breakdowns may indicate a state’s values and priorities.
Understanding who lives in Massachusetts, how they live, and what they value can make it much easier to decide if it’s the kind of place where you’d feel comfortable and connected.
| Metric | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,001,399 |
| Female | 51.1% |
| Male | 48.9% |
| College graduation rate | 50.62% |
| Political leaning | Democratic 61.5-36.3 |
| Crime index | 13.92 |
Massachusetts weather
Climate plays a huge role in shaping your day-to-day life, so it’s an important factor to consider when deciding whether Massachusetts is right for you. Looking at seasonal highs and lows and average rain and snowfall can help you imagine how much time you’ll be spending outdoors, preparing for storms, and adjusting to temperature extremes.
Summer highs can influence your energy bills and how much time you spend away from the AC. Winter lows determine the type of wardrobe and heating system you’ll need. Annual snowfall can range from light flurries to major storms that affect travel and daily life.
Whether you love sunshine, prefer cooler temps, or want to avoid snow altogether, knowing the climate can help you decide if Massachusetts aligns with your lifestyle and comfort level.
| Metric | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Summer high | 82ºF |
| Winter low | 16ºF |
| Annual rain | 49″ |
| Annual snow | 47″ |
Income and cost of living in Massachusetts
A look at major industries, average income, housing costs, and the overall cost of living gives you a clearer picture of how affordable and sustainable life will likely be in Massachusetts.
Knowing which industries boost the economy can help you evaluate job prospects in your field or foresee job market stability. If you’re thinking about renting or buying a home, housing costs are probably a major factor when deciding whether to move.
The cost of living index shows how much your money is worth compared to the national average. A lower index usually means daily expenses such as groceries, transportation, and housing are cheaper.
These numbers are more than just statistics. They’re practical tools that help you compare your current lifestyle to what’s possible in Massachusetts and make a confident, informed decision about your move.
The main economic industries in the state include:
- Professional and business services ($102.4 billion)
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($80.6 billion)
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($69.7 billion)
- Finance and insurance ($52.8 billion)
- Manufacturing ($52.6 billion)
- Information ($31.7 billion)
- Wholesale trade ($27.6 billion)
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services ($23.4 billion)
- Retail trade ($22.4 billion)
- Construction ($21.1 billion)
| Metric | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,588 |
| Average home cost | $623,131 |
| Average income (per capita) | $96,505 |
| Cost of living index* | 100 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% |
| Average sales tax | Not available |
| State income tax | 9.0% |
*To figure out the cost of living in each state, there’s a 100-point index, known as the cost of living index. This metric starts with a baseline number of 100. States with a number below that are less expensive to live in while states with numbers higher than 100 are more expensive to live in.
Top schools in Massachusetts
If education influences your decision to move, a state’s schools reflect its career opportunities and community resources.
Whether you’re planning to go back to school yourself, have kids nearing graduation, or just want to live in a state with strong academic options, it’s worth checking out what Massachusetts has to offer.
Here are some of the top schools in Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Boston University
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Northeastern University
- Boston College
- Brandeis University
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Berklee College of Music
- Williams College
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- Amherst College
- Clark University
- University of Massachusetts
Finding the best moving company for your relocation to Massachusetts
We’ve reviewed hundreds of moving companies and worked directly with customers to identify the top movers across the country.
If you’re planning on moving to the Bay State, here are the best moving companies to help you transport your belongings to your new home wherever you are headed from.
- Alabama to MA
- Arkansas to MA
- Arizona to MA
- California to MA
- Colorado to MA
- Connecticut to MA
- Delaware to MA
- Florida to MA
- Georgia to MA
- Iowa to MA
- Idaho to MA
- Illinois to MA
- Indiana to MA
- Kansas to MA
- Kentucky to MA
- Louisiana to MA
- Maryland to MA
- Maine to MA
- Michigan to MA
- Minnesota to MA
- Missouri to MA
- Mississippi to MA
- Montana to MA
- North Carolina to MA
- North Dakota to MA
- Nebraska to MA
- New Hampshire to MA
- New Jersey to MA
- New Mexico to MA
- Nevada to MA
- New York to MA
- Ohio to MA
- Oklahoma to MA
- Oregon to MA
- Pennsylvania to MA
- Rhode Island to MA
- South Carolina to MA
- South Dakota to MA
- Tennessee to MA
- Texas to MA
- Utah to MA
- Virginia to MA
- Vermont to MA
- Washington to MA
- Wisconsin to MA
- West Virginia to MA
- Wyoming to MA
Cost of moving to Massachusetts
Before you take the leap to Massachusetts, it’s a good idea to get a handle on moving costs. On average, hiring professional movers will run you about $131 per hour. The total cost depends on how much stuff you have and how far you’re moving. Cross-country moves, for example, will definitely hit your wallet harder than a quick hop across state lines.
The type of move you choose can make a big difference in cost, too.
To keep costs down, choose one of the best moving container companies. You do the packing and loading and they handle the driving for you, so it’s kind of like a middle ground between DIY and full-service.
Want to save even more? The most affordable option is to get a rental truck. With this options, you’ll do all of the heavy lifting, including packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
But if you’d rather not break a sweat, professional interstate movers can do all the work for you. Just keep in mind that this convenience comes at a price. Be sure to get quotes from several different movers to find one that fits your budget and moving needs.
| Company | Quote | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Safeway Moving
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Mayzlin Relocation
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BLVD Moving
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PODS
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American Van Lines
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Cost to bring your car to Massachusetts
Bringing a car with you? Use our car shipping calculator below to estimate how much it’ll cost to transport your vehicle to Massachusetts.
Massachusetts car insurance requirements
Massachusetts drivers license requirements
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