Best Moving Companies in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has experienced a small but steady increase in population—despite its high cost of living—and many attribute that rise to access to excellent healthcare and schools. Overall, the Bay State is recognized for its high quality of living, strong economy, and expansive outdoor scenery. And as one of the most populous states in the New England region, Massachusetts’ rich historical background and community pride will continue to draw in new citizens in the future, as long as they can afford it.

If you’re looking for well-established Massachusetts movers, we recommend any of the movers on this page, but our top moving choice is International Van Lines.

• International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
• First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
• PODS—Best moving container company
• Penske—Best moving truck company
• HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company

Around 6.87 million people call Massachusetts home.¹ Ethnic diversity in Massachusetts is higher when compared to its neighboring New England states, but average compared to other states in the US. While the majority of the population is White (71%), the second and third most common ethnic groups are Black or African American (about 7%) and Asian (also about 7%). Additionally, about 12% of residents living in Massachusetts identify as Hispanic. 

Roughly 17% of the population was born in another country, with the most common origin countries being China, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. And lastly, about 24% of households speak another language aside from English, the most common being Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese.¹

Other noteworthy demographics:

• Massachusetts is home to a large number of veterans, roughly 277,442.² 
• Less than 8% of residents under 65 live with a disability.²
• 91% of the population has obtained a high school diploma, and more than 45% have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.²

There are 3.42 million people employed in Massachusetts,¹ with an unemployment rate of 3.3%.³ The most common jobs are managers, registered nurses, and elementary and middle school teachers. Additionally, the most common employment industries are elementary and secondary schools, general medical and surgical hospitals, and restaurants and food services.¹ The average salary in Michigan is $72,940 annually or $35.07 per hour.⁴

The cost of living is about 1.15 times higher in Massachusetts than the national average, but of course, this varies by city. For example, you can expect prices in Boston to be much higher than they would be in Easthampton or New Bedford. In general, you can expect the annual cost of living to reach around $51,824 for a single person, and over $107,292 for a family of four.⁵ Overall, Massachusetts ranks 7th on the most expensive states, and 23rd on the list of best states to live in.⁶

Massachusetts voted Democrat in the most recent presidential election. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the two senators representing Michigan, and Michelle Wu is the governor of Boston. While Massachusetts is considered one of the most left-leaning states in the nation, the state also has a history of voting for mostly-Republican governors—possibly to offset the high number of Democrats in congress and state legislature.¹ Currently, decision makers seek to address environmentalism and climate change, Massachusetts’ infrastructure and economy, and healthcare.⁷

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:

• Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.

• Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.

• Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.

• Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.

• Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

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