Moving from California to the Bay State
Home to Harvard University and MIT, Massachusetts has been ranked as one of the best states to live in the US. Whether you’re moving to Massachusetts for its rich culture and history, great educational and job opportunities, the state will offer you all of that and much more.
Compared to the laid-back lifestyle of California, you will have to get used to the fast-paced life in the Bay State. Even though Massachusetts is the 44th largest state in the US, it is one of the most densely populated of all. Massachusetts population is ranked in the 14th position, with over 6.86 million people, and over 80% of the population lives in the Greater Boston metropolitan area.
Compared to California’s Mediterranean climate, most parts of Massachusetts have a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. The coastal areas usually have a humid subtropical climate. The month of July is the warmest month, while January is the coldest with average temperatures that go below freezing.
Economy and Employment
According to the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2016, Massachusetts had an estimated Gross State Product (GSP) of US $505 billion. In 2013, Massachusetts had the sixth-largest number of millionaires per capita in the US, according to a study by Phoenix Marketing International. While in 2015, twelve Fortune 500 companies were headquartered in Massachusetts, including Liberty Mutual, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, TJX Companies, EMC Corporation, Raytheon, Staples Inc., Global Partners, Thermo Fisher Scientific, State Street Corporation, Biogen, Eversource Energy, and Boston Scientific. This says a lot about the state’s economy.
Nowadays, Massachusetts is among the world leaders in biotechnology, engineering, higher education, finance, information technology, trade, finance, healthcare, venture capital investment, high technology, and last but not least, tourism. This all has played a major role in the state’s economy during the last decades.
Housing and Living Costs
Housing and living costs in Massachusetts are significantly higher than the national average. If we compare Los Angeles to Boston, for example, the cost of living in Boston is 2% more expensive than Los Angeles, and the utilities are 35% more expensive. Housing, on the contrary, is less expensive in Boston. The median home cost is $670,200 in Los Angeles and $587,000 in Boston.
Massachusetts Cities and Towns
In the state of Massachusetts, there are 50 cities and 301 towns grouped into 14 counties: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket. Review this great blog post about helpful tips for choosing a city in Massachusetts.
Things to see and do
Home to major league professional sports teams, such as the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots, the state of Massachusetts might very easily turn you into a huge sports fan.
No matter which city you choose, rest assured that you will have plenty of time to enjoy various activities, top sights, and the perfect weather during the beautiful months of spring and fall. Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Salem, Plymouth, Nantucket, and the Berkshires, are some of the most popular destinations for tourists, especially during the summer season.
Moving to Massachusetts with a car
Now you have decided you are moving to Massachusetts, and this is great! You also have decided you are taking your car with you. This is absolutely normal. Keep in mind that within 30 days of settling you need to register your vehicle with Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Depending on your vehicle type, you might need to transfer your certificate of title as well.
Keep in mind that having a car insurance in Massachusetts is mandatory. As soon as you become a resident, you need to visit your local RMV office to submit all required documents for transferring your out-of-state driver’s license.