Massachusetts to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 2,021 mile interstate move from Massachusetts to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Massachusetts vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Clam Chowder vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial vs mountain rustic), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Massachusetts), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Clam Chowder and Lobster Roll, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burger
- Colorado housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts
- Rent in Colorado is 20.18% more affordable than rent in Massachusetts
- Moving from Massachusetts to Colorado will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Massachusetts to Colorado movers is Paradise Moving & Storage
Massachusetts to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Massachusetts to Colorado
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Traffic congestion
- Limited mountain views
- Milder climate
- Lower expenses
- Spacious living
- Less crowded roads
- Scenic landscapes
- Newer culture
- Distance from coast
- Fewer historic schools
- Less culture
- Inland state
- Rich history
- Proximity to Boston
- World-class education
- Cultural heritage
- Atlantic beaches
Pros of moving from Massachusetts to Colorado
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Colorado with lower expenses
- Swap the dense population of Massachusetts for spacious living in Colorado
- Get ready for less crowded roads in Colorado
Cons of moving from Massachusetts to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich history in Massachusetts to live with a newer culture in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to Boston and have to settle for the con of distance from the coast
- Time to bid farewell to world-class education and get used to fewer historic schools in Colorado
- Swap cultural heritage for less culture
Massachusetts vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Clam Chowder | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster Roll | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Fried Clams | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Lobster Roll | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Massachusetts to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Clam Chowder of Massachusetts for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Massachusetts rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Fried Clams, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Lobster Roll they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Massachusetts eateries like Legal Sea Foods, Union Oyster House, and Neptune Oyster. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Buckhorn Exchange, Beauregard Food Co., and Denver Taco Festival.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Massachusetts. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in Massachusetts. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Massachusetts and Colorado
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Mountain Rustic |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to historical sites | Views of the Rockies |
- The Colonial architecture that Massachusetts is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Rustic architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Massachusetts's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to historical sites, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like views of the Rockies.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Colorado is less walkable than Massachusetts.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Massachusetts.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than Massachusetts.
- Colorado housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Massachusettsβs $612,509.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 46% increase in Massachusetts.
- Rent in Colorado is 20.18% more affordable than rent in Massachusetts.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Massachusetts and Colorado
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Nor'easters, blizzards | Wildfires, floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Variable, often Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 60Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 22Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47.7 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 51 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Massachusetts to Colorado. Colorado gets 23% more sunshine days than Massachusetts.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Massachusetts.
- Say goodbye to the possible nor'easters and blizzards in Massachusetts, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in Colorado.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 5 degrees warmer than in Massachusetts.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in Massachusetts.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 32.1 fewer inches of rain compared to Massachusetts.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Massachusetts and Colorado
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,488 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 121.55 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 5.0% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.23% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.25% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Health Care, Education, Finance | Tech, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Prosperous | Stable |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 5% less than in Massachusetts
- The COLI in Colorado will be 19% lower than what you are used to living in Massachusetts
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 5.0% in MA
- The affluence in Colorado is stable compared to prosperous in Massachusetts
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate in Massachusetts
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Massachusetts and visible in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Massachusetts vs. Colorado
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic majority | Mixed, with a slight Democratic lean |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on education and healthcare | Focus on environmental issues and land use |
Religion | Primarily Catholic, with a significant none (no religious affiliation) | Less religiously affiliated, with a strong presence of Buddhism and New Age practices |
- Massachusetts tends to lean Liberal/Democratic majority in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as mixed, with a slight Democratic lean
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated, with a strong presence of Buddhism and New Age practices
- Massachusetts' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Catholic, with a significant number of individuals having no religious affiliation
Education Guide When Moving from Massachusetts to Colorado
Comparison | Massachusetts | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Boston College | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | John D. Hardy Elementary Wellesley; Maria Hastings Elementary Lexington; Vinson-Owen Elementary Winchester | Cory Elementary Denver; Parker Core Knowledge Charter School Parker; Slavens K-8 School Denver |
Top 3 Middle Schools | William Diamond Middle School Lexington; Jonas Clarke Middle School Lexington; McCarthy Middle School Chelmsford | D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School Denver; Summit Middle Charter School Boulder; The Connect Charter School Pueblo |
Top 3 High Schools | Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science Worcester; Boston Latin School Boston; Lexington High School Lexington | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; The Classical Academy High School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy Andover; Noble and Greenough School Dedham; Milton Academy Milton | Kent Denver School Englewood; Colorado Academy Denver; Fountain Valley School of Colorado Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Buckingham Browne & Nichols School Cambridge; The Winsor School Boston; The Dexter Southfield School Brookline | Aspen Academy Greenwood Village; The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs; Vail Mountain School Vail |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington Public Schools; Weston Public Schools; Newton Public Schools | Cherry Creek School District; Boulder Valley School District; Littleton Public Schools |
How Much Do Massachusetts to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 2,021 miles from Massachusetts to Colorado will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Centaur Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,348 | 300 ft3 | $7.83 |
1 Bedroom | $3,500 | 450 ft3 | $7.78 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,796 | 750 ft3 | $7.73 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,445 | 1100 ft3 | $7.68 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,204 | 1600 ft3 | $7.63 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,639 | 1800 ft3 | $7.58 |
Top Massachusetts to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Massachusetts to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Paradise Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for Massachusetts to Colorado