Moving to the City of Neighborhoods
The capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is also the most populous one with an estimated population of over 680,000 people. The population of Boston has been constantly growing throughout the past decades, but it doesn’t even come close to Los Angeles’ population of over 4 million.
Founded in 1630, Boston is not only one of the oldest cities in the US, but it is also an international center of higher education with universities such as Harvard, Emerson College, Boston University, Northwestern University, MIT and more. Moving from sunny Los Angeles, to a city like Boston, with such rich culture and history, will be an adventure that is certainly worth undertaking.
L.A. and Boston differ in many ways. Compared to Los Angeles’ year-round, mild-to-hot, dry climate, Boston has a humid continental climate. July is usually the hottest, while January the coldest month. If you’ve never seen snow before, you will have your chance in Boston during winter, so, add warm clothes to your packing list as well.
Economy, housing, and cost of living
As one of the top 30 most powerful cities in the World, living costs in Boston can be up to 47% more expensive than the national average. Los Angeles is well known for its expensiveness, but it is not more expensive than Boston. Expect your living costs to increase by 2% at least, and utilities by 35%, once you move to Boston. Housing, on the contrary, can be less expensive in Boston, but it will depend immensely on where in Boston you move to. In L.A., the median home cost is $583,600, while in Boston it drops to $499,400.
Boston neighborhoods
Thanks to its diverse subsections, Boston is often called the city of neighborhoods. Among the 23 designated neighborhoods you can choose from, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, North End, South Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Back Bay are just some of the most preferred neighborhoods in Boston.
Whether you are looking to buy a house, or rent an apartment, make sure you avoid the month of September if you want to stay away from high prices. The best deals you can find usually are available during the month of July and August. To learn more, please visit our Moving to Boston Guide!
Job market and unemployment rate
As of November 2017, the unemployment rate in Boston is only 3.0%, 1.1% lower than the national average and 1.4% lower than Los Angeles’ unemployment rate. With an abundance of job opportunities in higher education, technology, medical sector, biotech, life sciences, and finance, “The Hub” also is home to a great number of startups that are on the lookout for new talent every day.
What to do in Boston
This European-looking city has a lot to offer. From numerous lakes and mountains, to must-see attractions such as the Freedom Trail, Museum of Fine Arts, Faneuil Hall, Boston Public Garden, North End, Boston Harbor, Quincy Market, the Skywalk Observatory, and Old State House, you will have a lot of things to do that will keep you busy and amused for several weeks, or even months.
Its location is also very favorable and allows its inhabitants to easily travel to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Newport whenever they need a weekend getaway.
Moving to Boston with a car
Once you move to Boston, you will need to register your car with the RMV within the first 30 days you become a resident. Keep in mind that the car insurance is mandatory for registering your car. You will also need to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license, and submit all the required documents at your local MA RMV office in person.