Best Moving Companies in Massachusetts

We found the best Massachusetts movers by researching more than 30 moving companies.
Best long-distance moving company
Best local moving company
Best moving container company
Best for East Coast moves
Solomon & Sons
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Guaranteed pricing
  • Icon Yes  Light
    $100 discount for move + car ship
Best hourly moving labor company

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.


Compare Massachusetts moving companies

Moving company
Move type
Move.org rating
Cost
Learn more
Full-service (long distance)
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
$$$$
Full-service (local)
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
$$$
Moving container
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$$$
East Coast moves
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$$$
Hourly labor
4 out of 5 stars
4
$$

International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company

Best long-distance moving company

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.

pro
Pros
pro Transparent pricing
pro Local and long-distance moving
pro 15% car shipping discount
pro 15% senior discount
pro 30 days of free storage
con
Cons
con Below-average customer reviews
con Annoying pop-up ads

First National Van Lines—Best local moving company

Best local moving company

First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.

pro
Pros
pro Services most U.S. cities
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro In-home and virtual quotes
pro 30 days of free storage
pro Remote video storage
con
Cons
con Out-of-date website

PODS—Best moving container company

Best moving container company

PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.

pro
Pros
pro Low prices
pro Multiple container sizes
pro Lots of storage options
pro Positive customer reviews
pro 46-state availability
con
Cons
con Confusing prices

Solomon & Sons Relocation—Best for East Coast moves

Best East Coast mover

Bottom line: Solomon & Sons excels in moves along the East Coast but offers nationwide and international services. Their standout sales team ensures a superior quoting experience with guaranteed pricing, whether through detailed in-home estimates in South Florida or convenient video conferencing elsewhere. Offering services in five languages, they promise no hidden fees and transparent pricing. You can also get an instant online quote, which makes planning your move fast and easy.

Discover everything Solomon & Sons offers in our full review.

pro
Pros
pro Guaranteed pricing
pro Instant online quotes
pro $100 discount for moving + car shipping
con
Cons
con Extra 15% deposit required outside of Florida

HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company

Best hourly moving labor company

HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.

pro
Pros
pro Professional contractors
pro Packing and loading services
pro 4,750+ locations
pro 50-state availability
pro Positive customer reviews
con
Cons
con High prices
con Two-hour minimum

Move.org's top pick

internationalvanlines

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?


What type of moving company is right for you?

Professional movers
They handle it all.

Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.

Containers
You load, they ship.

You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.

Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.

Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.


What to know about living in Massachusetts

Population

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

Employment

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

Cost of living

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

Politics

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

Pin
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?

American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.

Best Massachusetts movers FAQ

Massachusetts is one of the most historically significant states in the nation, as one of the 13 original colonies and the birthplace of the American Revolution. And if that’s not enough of a draw, its residents take real pride in their sports teams—ever heard of the New England Patriots? 

And aside from the coastal beauty that comes with New England living, you can expect to see some of the highest cost of living rates in the nation. However, the job market in Massachusetts is thriving, bolstered by the healthcare industry which is the state’s biggest employment sector.8

Despite the higher cost of living and harsh winters, over 437,000 people have moved to Massachusetts in the last decade.This may be because of the state’s healthcare system, which has been ranked 2nd in the country. Healthcare access and affordability is important in Massachusetts, and as a result only about 3% of residents are uninsured. Education is also a big driving factor here, because Massachusetts has the #1 ranked K-12 public schools in the country. Not to mention that the Bay State is home to some of the country's most reputable universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Amherst, among others.8 

If you are looking to make a move to or from Massachusetts, we recommend moving with International Van Lines, our top-rated mover. You can expect transparent pricing, high customer satisfaction, optional packing services, and senior discounts.

Your liveable wage in Massachusetts depends on your living situation and household size. 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 So a single adult would need to make roughly $24.92 per hour to meet basic living needs, and two working adults with two children would each need to make $25.79 per hour to manage their household’s living needs.

A storage unit in Michigan costs an average of $185 per month for a non-climate-controlled option, but this will vary depending on availability, location, unit size, and the self-storage company.9

Methodology

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. During our searches, we:

  • 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.
  • Go 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.
  • Perform 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.
  • Set up regular reviews. 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.

Sources

  1. DataUSA, “Massachusetts.” Accessed January 25, 2023.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: Massachusetts.” Accessed January 25, 2023. 
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Economy at a Glance.” Accessed January 25, 2023.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.” Accessed January 25, 2023.
  5. LivingCost, “Cost of Living in Massachusetts,” Accessed January 25, 2023.
  6. Extra Space Storage, “5 Most Affordable Places to Live in Massachusetts,” Published December 19, 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.
  7. Naomi Corlette, Harvard Political Review, “What You Need to Know About the Massachusetts State Elections,” Published October 31, 2022. Accessed January 25, 2023.
  8. Mayflower, “Moving to Massachusetts.” Accessed January 25, 2023.
  9. RentCafe, “30 Best Storage Units in Massachusetts, from $5.” Accessed January 24, 2023.