New York to Massachusetts Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 220 mile interstate move from New York to Massachusetts? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Massachusetts across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost in suburbs), food & health (like New York-style pizza vs Clam chowder), real estate & housing (art deco, brownstone vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Massachusetts), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to New York-style pizza and Beef brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Clam chowder & Lobster roll
- Massachusetts housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Massachusetts is 1.61% more expensive than in New York
- Moving from New York to Massachusetts will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New York to Massachusetts movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Massachusetts Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Massachusetts
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Hectic lifestyle
- Limited nature access
- Lower cost in suburbs
- Less rush hour chaos
- Calmer, suburban life
- Abundant outdoor spaces
- Smaller arts community
- Fewer restaurant options
- Less nightlife variety
- Job market may vary
- Diverse cultural scene
- World-class dining
- Vibrant nightlife
- Job opportunities
Pros of moving from New York to Massachusetts
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to a lower cost in the suburbs
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Massachusetts with less rush hour chaos
- Swap the hectic lifestyle of New York for a calmer suburban life in Massachusetts
- Get ready for abundant outdoor spaces in Massachusetts
Cons of moving from New York to Massachusetts
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse cultural scene in New York to live with a smaller arts community in Massachusetts
- You'll lose out on the pro of world-class dining and have to settle for the con of fewer restaurant options
- Time to bid farewell to the vibrant nightlife and get used to less nightlife variety in Massachusetts
- Swap job opportunities for a job market that may vary
New York vs. Massachusetts: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-style pizza | Clam chowder |
Most popular meat dish | Beef brisket | Lobster roll |
Most popular street food item | Hot dogs | Fried clams |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado toast | Quinoa salad |
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 New York to Massachusetts, you will be trading the iconic New York-style pizza of New York for the equally delicious clam chowder of Massachusetts. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful beef brisket and sumptuous hot dogs, Massachusetts residents know they have tasty lobster roll and fried clams to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the avocado toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the quinoa salad of Massachusetts. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Carmine's, and Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in Massachusetts, don't wait too long before making your way to Massachusetts' acclaimed eateries like Woodman's of Essex, Union Oyster House, and Neptune Oyster.
When comparing lifestyles, Massachusetts shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Massachusetts compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Massachusetts.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Massachusetts
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Art Deco, Brownstone | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to subway, rooftop access | Historic details, proximity to parks |
- The Art Deco and Brownstone architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Massachusetts.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and rooftop access, Massachusetts real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and proximity to parks.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Massachusetts is less walkable than New York.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Massachusetts is more bike-friendly than New York.
- Massachusetts has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Massachusetts housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $612,509 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Massachusetts have increased by 46% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Massachusetts is 1.61% more expensive than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Massachusetts
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Blizzards | Nor'easters, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 66Β°F | 80Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 39Β°F / 26Β°F | 37Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 47.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 43.8 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Massachusetts. Massachusetts gets 11% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Massachusetts has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York, but be on the lookout for potential nor'easters and blizzards in Massachusetts.
- The average summer high temperature in Massachusetts is 2 degrees colder than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Massachusetts. Massachusetts receives 2.2 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Massachusetts
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $94,488 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 121.55 |
State Income Tax | 4% - 10.9% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 1.2% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% - 8.875% | 6.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Retail | Education, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | High | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Massachusetts tend to earn about 19% more than those in New York
- The COLI in Massachusetts will be 18% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in MA is 5% compared to 4% - 10.9% in NY
- The affluence in Massachusetts is high compared to that in New York
- The poverty level is low in Massachusetts compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and moderate in Massachusetts
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Massachusetts
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally Democratic | Predominantly Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive Urban Centers | Liberal Leaning |
Religion | Diverse | Heavily Catholic |
- New York tends to lean generally Democratic in its political climate
- Massachusetts, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly Democratic
- Massachusetts' religious environment can be described as heavily Catholic
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Massachusetts
Comparison | New York | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University University of Buffalo Stony Brook University | Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Boston University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | P.S. 334 The Anderson School (New York City) P.S. 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) | John D. Hardy Elementary School (Wellesley) Edward Brooke Charter School (Boston) Joseph E. Fiske Elementary School (Wellesley) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | P.S. 122 Mamie Fay (Astoria) The Spence School (New York City) The Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Astoria) | William Diamond Middle School (Lexington) Boston Latin School (Boston) Edward Brooke Charter School (Boston) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Syosset Senior High School (Syosset) | Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science (Worcester) Boston Latin School (Boston) Lexington High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Brearley School (New York City) Horace Mann School (Bronx) The Chapin School (New York City) | Phillips Academy (Andover) Milton Academy (Milton) The Winsor School (Boston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Chapin School (New York City) The Brearley School (New York City) Collegiate School (New York City) | Phillips Academy (Andover) Milton Academy (Milton) Noble and Greenough School (Dedham) |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck School District Jericho Union Free School District Syosset Central School District | Lexington Public Schools Wellesley Public Schools Newton Public Schools |
How Much Do New York to Massachusetts Movers Cost?
Moving 220 miles from New York to Massachusetts will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,128 | 300 ft3 | $3.76 |
1 Bedroom | $1,673 | 450 ft3 | $3.72 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,757 | 750 ft3 | $3.68 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,996 | 1100 ft3 | $3.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,745 | 1600 ft3 | $3.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,386 | 1800 ft3 | $3.55 |
Top New York to Massachusetts Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Massachusetts movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to Massachusetts