Your Boston Relocation Guide for 2020
If you're moving to Boston, you should know that the locals refer to it as "The Hub" because it leads New England in jobs, population, colleges and universities, and sporting teams.
Home to the Red Sox, Bruins, the New England Patriots, and Celtics, Boston is a sports lover's paradise, to say the least. Others consider Boston a prestigious center of learning, as it is also home to Boston, MIT and others. There is also excellent health care here, thanks in part to Boston serving as a proud home to Harvard Medical School.
Living in Boston isn’t cheap— it ranks as one of the top five highest costs of living in the U.S. Fortunately, public transportation is cheap and plentiful, and Boston has been dubbed, "America's Walking City," so you may not need a car.
Higher state taxes contribute to the high cost of living. Luckily, flat taxes apply for sales and income taxes. There are high costs associated with estate and capital gains taxes, but these don't apply to most individuals.
High housing costs can be mitigated by living with roommates and doing your research before buying properties. This is an older city with older homes, so "fixer-uppers" are plentiful.
Working in Boston should be relatively easy, but available positions can vary based on your career choice and qualifications. Boston has a growing workforce, that includes everything from massive Fortune 500 companies to mom and pop shops.
Boston Is for History Lovers
Frankly, it's hard to turn around without seeing historic sites in the city of Boston. Everywhere you look there are reminders of our country's origins, from the Boston Tea Party to the "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."
You can traverse the Freedom Trail and learn about the founding of our nation as you visit notable locations and landmarks such as Paul Revere's home, the Old North Church, and the USS Constitution.
Some of the city's most popular attractions include the Boston Museum of Fine Art, the Boston Children’s Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, The Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Mary Baker Eddy Library.
10 of Boston's Best Neighborhoods
Here are our picks for the best neighborhoods in Boston.
West Roxbury — Parks, single-family homes, and a suburban-feel in a prime location, West Roxbury is home to the popular Sofia Italian Steakhouse and Greek International Food Market.
Charlestown — This small neighborhood is home to Brewer's Fork and Monument restaurants. This area is popular with young professionals who love the historic waterfront and are attracted to its affordable housing.
Jamaica Plain — This neighborhood is the most ethnically and income-diverse in Boston. The real estate costs are rising here, but there is still an influx of restaurants, indicating that the neighborhood continues to thrive and grow.
East Boston — Called "Eastie" by residents, this neighborhood prides itself on its diversity and inclusion of all types of people. It also has great restaurants like Santarpio's pizza and Taqueria Jalisco.
Hyde Park — This low-income area is well-maintained with green spots on every corner which offer relief from all the brick and concrete.
Dorchester — Culturally diverse, with Irish-Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and
an inclusive LGBTQ+ population, this neighborhood is known for its proximity to popular green spaces and Boston Harbor. Vietnamese food joints like Ba Le and Ánh Hồng Restaurant are found here, as well as bountiful burgers at Bred Gourmet.
Allston/Brighton — This up and coming neighborhood caters to recent graduates and college students. Home to a great selection of restaurants such as Carlo's Cucina and Coreanos Allston, this area offers quality food at lower prices than their competitors downtown.
Mission Hill — An inclusive neighborhood that has had a recent surge in new construction, Mission Hill is inexpensive and offers something for all tastes.
South Boston — Called "Southie," this neighborhood is popular with young professionals. This gentrified neighborhood is home to great seafood restaurants Row 34, Ocean Prime, Yankee Lobster, and James Hook and Co.
Back Bay — This area is the heart of Boston. The homes here are some of the most beautiful in the city. Newbury Street has shops of all kinds and you can find restaurants like Deuxave, Sorellina, Ostra, Grill 23 & Bar, and Bistro du Midi.
Relax and check out a book at the Boston Public Library or go on a walk through the Public Garden.
In addition to these neighborhoods, Boston has plenty of notable suburbs like Cambridge, Beacon Hill, Winchester, and Worcester.
Five Helpful Moving Tips
• Before relocating to Boston, subscribe to The Boston Globe to begin your house and job hunt.
• Have a garage sale to pare down on the amount of stuff you have to move to save on your moving expenses.
• Turn packing into a party. Invite your friends over to say goodbye and tell them to roll up their sleeves and get packing.
• Professional packers and movers can assist you. Hire what you can afford, it will help relieve stress during the move.
• Consider renting, at least initially. Get to know your new city before buying a potentially expensive piece of real estate. It's easier to change your neighborhood if you rent rather than if you buy.