Considered by many to be the "Cradle of Modern America", this sprawling metropolis has witnessed events like the Boston Tea Party, which sparked the American Revolution, and the Big Dig, which heralded America into a new era of growth and development. Being one of the nation's top centers of higher education, Boston boasts of some of the premier universities and institutions in the world, like Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The city offers a plethora of activities for one and all. From touring the USS Constitution to walking the JFK Trail, to enjoying a concert at Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, you are sure to find something interesting to do.
Here is the guide that will help you relocate smoothly to Boston.
Boston Climate
A humid subtropical climate with warm summers and cold snowy winters are characteristic of this city. Boston's proximity to the Charles River and Mystic River has resulted in frequent fog and humidity. The breezes from the Atlantic Ocean keep the climate relatively mild. Sometimes these breezes can develop into Nor'easter weather systems that bring torrential rain and snow. The city is susceptible to thunderstorms, large hail and strong winds from May to September.
Boston Neighborhoods
Rooted in history and culture and yet reflecting modern sophistication, Boston has been the cultural and economic center of the entire New England region.
Boston has 21 neighborhoods which are distinctly vibrant and diverse, where one can see the celebration of cultures from all over the world. The Financial district and Government Center are located in downtown Boston. The LGBT population and a large collection of the city's artists reside in the South End, while Italian restaurants are predominant in the North End.
Beacon Hill and the Back Bay are some of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods where politicians, top businessmen, and famous authors reside. Bay Village, in contrast, is known for its small brick row houses. On the fringes of the Boston University campus is the Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood, where college students and young professionals reside. The largest and most diverse of all the city's neighborhoods is Dorchester, where mostly working class people reside.
Registering Your Car
It is necessary for you to have Massachusetts insurance in order to obtain motor vehicle registration. You must have the insurance agent stamp on your application for the vehicle to be registered. Once the application has the insurance stamp, you can take it to any Massachusetts RMV office for processing. You will then receive a registration certificate and registrations must be renewed yearly.
If you already have a driver's license from the state you have moved, you must go to the Massachusetts RMV location and get your license transferred to Massachusetts. You must also submit to a mandatory vision test and pay a transfer fee. And in case you do not have a valid license, you must go through the process of applying for a permit and license. If you are under the age of 18, you will be eligible for a junior operator's license.
Boston Schools
As one of the first major developed cities to rise to promise in the time preceding and immediately following the American Revolution, Boston has some of the oldest and most prestigious public and private universities in the country, including schools that were founded in the 17th century or earlier. Boston also is home to one of the largest collections of schools in the U.S., with an eclectic variety of different colleges ranging from art schools and law schools to liberal arts institutions and technological institutes.
Some of the most well-known universities located in and around the Boston metropolitan area include Northeastern University, Suffolk University, Boston College, Boston University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Emmanuel College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Simmons College, Emerson College, Harvard University, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Boston public school system is the oldest public school system in the United States and contains 145 schools in the city of Boston, which currently enrolls over 57,000 students from kindergarten through high school. The Boston public school system was named the "Best large city school system in the country" by Forbes magazine in 2002.
Boston Employment
The Boston economy is booming and is one of the largest economies in the world. It currently ranks as the 6th largest economy in the United States and the 12th largest in the world. Among the financial services, insurance, and mutual funds industries that power the local economy of the city, Boston is also home to the headquarters for many major corporations such as Liberty Mutual, New Balance and Gillette. In addition, Boston is also the home to some of the world's largest publishing companies like Houghton Mifflin, Bedford-St. Martin's Press, Beacon Press and Little, Brown and Company.
Boston Moving Resources
There are hundreds of reputable and reliable moving companies in the city of Boston to help you with your move and get you unloaded and unpacked in your new home. Whether you're moving from within the state of Massachusetts, or whether you're moving from the Midwest or even the West coast, you'll find moving companies that can help you get settled in Boston. Here are just a few of the movers you can find to handle your relocation to Boston:
- Father & Son Moving & Storage of New England
- Five Stars Movers
- Best Movers
- Competitive Relocation Services
- Boston Express Movers
- Michaels Moving and Storage
In addition, there are also many storage companies located within the city in case you need a place to store some of your belongings, whether it's for a short amount of time until you get settled in your new home, or for more long-term storage. You can find yourself a Boston storage company to help fulfill your storage needs.
Living Costs in the City
With a sales tax of 6.25% and no sales tax on clothes valued under $175, shopping in Boston is like shopping in stores with sales every day. However, the housing prices in the city are some of the highest in the U.S. with median house prices averaging up to $350,000 in neighborhoods like Beacon Hill and Downtown. An income tax of 5.3% is levied by the state on both earned and unearned income. When compared to other major metropolitan areas throughout the country, like New York and Los Angeles, most people might find Boston more affordable. Meanwhile, those coming from small towns might find it more expensive.
Public Transportation
A network of subways, bus routes, and commuter rail lines traverse the city. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or popularly called the "T" by Bostonians, is comprised of an extensive grid of trains and buses. Various token booths and subscription passes are available that will let you use the services in a cost efficient way. Boston Bikes, a brainchild of Mayor Thomas Menino, aims to evolve Boston into a biking city on par with the rest of the world. Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. where auto insurance rates are determined by where a person resides. Drivers with good driving records and members of AAA are eligible for discounts. Boston's major airport is Logan International Airport, which is located within the city and is readily accessible from just about any surrounding area or suburb via public transportation or by car.
Culture and Contemporary Life
The city of Boston, with its own slang called "Boston English", has a culture that is not very different from the rest of the Greater New England region, which has many Irish influences. Also, owing to the presence of a large number of universities, the city has gained an intellectual reputation that has rendered it a unique cultural identity.
The Boston Marathon is one of the oldest marathons and it takes place every year on the third Monday in April. The Saint Patrick's Day Parade is popular with the Irish community and is organized annually in March. Also, the LBGT Parade and Festival occurring in June attracts huge crowds into the city.
The hardcore punk genre of music was originated and evolved here. Some of the most popular bands in this category include The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the Dropkick Murphys.
Seafood and dairy products form a major part of the cuisine, and New England clam chowder, fish and chips, lobsters, and baked beans are some of the city's most famous dishes.
Sports are also a large part of Boston culture and contemporary life, with a team in every major professional sport. The Boston Red Sox are the city's baseball team, playing in historic Fenway Park, the New England Patriots are the city's football team, and they play at Gillette Stadium, which is a few miles outside of the city, and the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins are the basketball and hockey teams, respectively, which both play at the TD Garden in Downtown Boston. All of the Boston teams have come upon great success in the last decade, with the Red Sox winning two World Series titles, the Patriots winning three Super Bowls, the Celtics winning an NBA title, and the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup, all since 2001.
Moving to Boston
Regardless of your reason to move to Boston, whether it's in pursuit of higher education at one of the many prestigious universities in the city, or whether you're just an expat in search of better opportunities, moving in and of itself can be a challenging and daunting task. Hiring a licensed and professional mover can ease the entire process.
The apartment buildings in much of the downtown area have narrow staircases and no elevators which increase the overall expenditure of moving and can make the entire process much more difficult than it normally is. Getting a parking permit in advance will save you money and your moving company's time. Parking permits can be arranged by a licensed and bonded moving company. The certificate of insurance and workers compensation insurance should be provided by the moving company to the building manager of the building into which you are moving. Any elevator should be reserved in advance for your move as well.
Boston Relocation Tips
- It would be a good practice to break the typical September 1st lease cycle, as 250,000 students descend upon the city on Labor Day weekend. June and July are also hectic months, when graduations and new job offers result in a lot of relocation going on within the city. It would save you money, and you can avoid potential delays and moving traffic if you move before June.
- Even though Boston is a small city, it is better to decide well in advance of your move which neighborhood you intend to move to. Beacon Hill and Back Bay contain older, colonial-style homes and apartments and are quite pricey. However, the Fenway, Prudential Center and Copley Square neighborhoods offer some more modern apartment complexes.
- It is better to know beforehand when you will be able to move in, as some landlords are particular about giving keys at a certain time.
- You should photo document any damages to your apartment to prevent any deductions from your security deposit.
- Boston's mass transit system is well developed and you would only need an automobile if you reside in the suburbs and need to commute to and from the city. Having an automobile might increase your average monthly living costs with parking fees, parking tickets, and towing.
- Boston has distinctly marked seasons. As the weather is cold throughout, central air conditioning is rarely found in many of the older homes and apartments. However, summer temperatures can be still be very hot. Many native New Englanders describe fall as being the perfect season for the region, with mild weather, beautiful fall foliage, and crisp breezes.