Massachusetts to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 2,917 mile interstate move from Massachusetts to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in Massachusetts vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Clam Chowder vs Marionberry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Massachusetts), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Clam Chowder and Boston Baked Beans, but get your taste buds ready for Marionberry Pie & Portland-style Brisket
- Oregon housing costs are 19% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts
- Rent in Oregon is 30.46% more affordable than in Massachusetts
- Moving from Massachusetts to Oregon will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Massachusetts to Oregon movers is Paradise Moving & Storage
Massachusetts to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Massachusetts to Oregon
- Harsh winters
- High housing costs
- Heavy traffic
- State taxes
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Milder climate
- More affordable living
- Less congestion
- No sales tax
- Abundant outdoor recreation
- Fewer historical sites
- Remote feel
- Rainy winters
- Limited career options
- Fewer top universities
- Rich history
- Proximity to major cities
- Diverse seasons
- Strong job market
- Educational opportunities
Pros of moving from Massachusetts to Oregon
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from high housing costs and moving to Oregon with more affordable living
- Swap the heavy traffic of Massachusetts for less congestion in Oregon
- Get ready for no sales tax in Oregon
Cons of moving from Massachusetts to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Massachusetts to live with fewer historical sites in Oregon
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to major cities and have to settle for the con of a remote feel
- Time to bid farewell to diverse seasons and get used to rainy winters in Oregon
- Swap a strong job market for limited career options
Massachusetts vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Clam Chowder | Marionberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Boston Baked Beans | Portland-style Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Lobster Roll | Voodoo Doughnut |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Clam Chowder | Vegan Ramen |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic Clam Chowder of Massachusetts for the equally delicious Marionberry Pie of Oregon. And while the locals in Massachusetts rave about their flavorful Boston Baked Beans and sumptuous Lobster Roll, Oregon residents know they have tasty Portland-style Brisket and Voodoo Doughnut to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Clam Chowder they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Ramen of Oregon. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Massachusetts eateries like Legal Sea Foods, Neptune Oyster, and Union Oyster House. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Pok Pok, Screen Door, and Salt & Straw.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Massachusetts. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon compared to what you are used to in Massachusetts. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Massachusetts and Oregon
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Sustainable materials, energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Massachusetts is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to Massachusetts's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like sustainable materials and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Oregon is less walkable than Massachusetts.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Oregon is more bike-friendly than Massachusetts.
- Oregon has less of an urban feel than Massachusetts.
- Oregon housing costs are 19% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to Massachusettsβs $612,509.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 46% increase in Massachusetts.
- Rent in Oregon is 30.46% more affordable than in Massachusetts.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Massachusetts and Oregon
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F/60Β°F | 81Β°F/51Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F/22Β°F | 47Β°F/35Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 43 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 51 | 3 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Massachusetts to Oregon. Oregon gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Massachusetts.
- Oregon has higher humidity and a similar 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 earthquakes in Oregon.
- The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 1 degree warmer than in Massachusetts.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Massachusetts.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Oregon. Oregon receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Massachusetts.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Massachusetts and Oregon
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,488 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 121.55 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 5.00% | 9.90% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.23% | 0.98% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.25% | 0.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Education, Healthcare, Technology | Technology, Agriculture, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rising | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 20% less than in Massachusetts
- The COLI in Oregon will be 9% lower than what you are used to living in Massachusetts
- The state income tax in OR is 9.90% compared to 5.00% in MA
- The affluence in Oregon is moderate compared to high in Massachusetts
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to low in Massachusetts
- In terms of homelessness, it is rising in Massachusetts and high in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in Massachusetts vs. Oregon
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Liberal/Democratic |
Local Politics | Moderate to liberal cities; liberal stronghold | Liberal cities with conservative rural areas |
Religion | Primarily Christian, though less religiously affiliated than many other states | Less religiously affiliated overall, with a mix of Christian and other faiths |
- Massachusetts tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated overall with a mix of Christian and other faiths
- Massachusetts' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, though less religiously affiliated than many other states
Education Guide When Moving from Massachusetts to Oregon
Comparison | Massachusetts | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | MIT (Cambridge) Harvard University (Cambridge) Boston University (Boston) | University of Oregon (Eugene) Oregon State University (Corvallis) Reed College (Portland) |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Vinson-Owen Elementary (Winchester) Day School (Westford) Bowman Elementary (Lexington) | Ainsworth Elementary (Portland) Findley Elementary (Portland) Summa Academy (Portland) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | William Diamond Middle School (Lexington) Weston Middle (Weston) Boston Latin (Boston) | Portland Jewish Academy (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Stoller Middle School (Portland) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Lexington High (Lexington) Boston Latin School (Boston) Newton South High (Newton) | Lincoln High (Portland) South Eugene High School (Eugene) Corvallis High (Corvallis) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Andover) Groton School (Groton) Noble and Greenough School (Dedham) | Portland Adventist Academy (Portland) Jesuit High School (Portland) Catlin Gabel School (Portland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Winsor School (Boston) The Roxbury Latin School (West Roxbury) Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall (Waltham) | Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) The Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Delphian School (Sheridan) |
Top 3 School Districts | Weston School District Lexington School District Wellesley School District | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District West Linn-Wilsonville School District |
How Much Do Massachusetts to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 2,917 miles from Massachusetts to Oregon will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Centaur Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,856 | 300 ft3 | $9.52 |
1 Bedroom | $4,262 | 450 ft3 | $9.47 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,066 | 750 ft3 | $9.42 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,308 | 1100 ft3 | $9.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,913 | 1600 ft3 | $9.32 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,687 | 1800 ft3 | $9.27 |
Top Massachusetts to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Massachusetts to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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