Moving to Boston

One of the oldest cities in the United Sates, Boston is a historical, vibrant and cultural beacon of the east coast, located in Massachusetts.
 
Today, Boston attracts academics, professionals in financial services (the headquarters of Santander Bank are located on State Street), venture capitalists, professionals in STEM fields, and just about anyone else looking to move abroad to the USA and start a new life in New England.
 
The cost of living in Boston tends to run quite high, particularly where property is concerned, but there are a number of options available in terms of accommodation to suit different budgets.
 
Whether you are relocating for work or just to enjoy a different quality of life, there are some handy things to know before taking the plunge and emigrating to Boston.

Shipping to Boston

The Port of Boston is one of the oldest and foremost international shipping docks on the east coast, so moving your belongings overseas should be quite straightforward.
 
If you’re planning a move, use our online international moving cost calculator to get an estimate of costs associated with transatlantic move to Boston.

Local Areas

Western neighbourhoods tend to be popular with expats moving to Boston, such as Watertown and Jamaica Plains (“JP”). Beacon Hill is another popular residential neighbourhood, home to traditional redbrick town houses and cobbled streets.
 
Expats that move to Boston from the UK with kids are often drawn to West Roxbury, home to Millennium Park, while certain parts of South Boston (Southie) have gentrified in recent years. 

 

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Amenities & Leisure

Moving to Boston? Better get to know the local sports teams. Bostonians are nothing short of fanatical about sports, and figures have even shown that they express a higher interest than the average American in nine different sports!
 
Trips to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, will no doubt become a regular feature in your social calendar. If you’re wanting to get into American football when you arrive in the US, the New England Patriots are Boston’s local team – one of the most successful sides in the NFL. You’ve also got the New England Revolution soccer team, for if you can’t leave football behind you.
 
Boston has plenty to offer in terms of bars, restaurants (serving up fantastic local seafood), cultural points of interest (found along the Freedom Trail), and live music and sports.
 
It is well-serviced by shops and health care services, and in terms of parks and green spaces, there is plenty to enjoy on your doorstep in the Boston Common or Millennium Park. 

Transport in Boston

The Greater Boston public transportation system is called the MBTA (affectionately known to locals as “the T”), and is made up of routes provided via commuter rail, subway, bus, streetcars, and even ferry.
 
With all five modes of transport on offer, the T is one of the most effective public transit systems in the US, although service generally stops at 1am, despite most bars and nightlife staying open until 2am. Cab services are frequent and affordable.
 
UK drivers will feel right at home, as Boston is one of few North American cities to utilise roundabouts in their road system. 

Schools in Boston

No discussion about relocating to Boston would be complete without discussing education. Boston is a veritable intellectual hub in the US, home to world-revered institutions including Harvard, Brown, Yale and MIT.
 
There is a British International School in Boston, an ode to the ties the city shares with the Old Country, and there are several highly-respected public schools throughout as well.
 
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Boston, you’ll have no shortage of things to discover upon arrival and for the years following. This distinctive city has a make-up of lifelong proud Bostonians and immigrants from all over the world, and with a strong British ex-pat presence already in place, you’ll feel at home in no time.