Moving to Boston: Your Go-To guide
If you’re already here then, Welcome to Boston! If you are debating the move to Boston, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the idea of a new city and unfamiliar territory. Fear not, our guide is going to give you a good overview of all the key things to know:
How to get around
CAR
Having a car in Boston is becoming more popular today. With increasing insurance rates, it is not recommended but seems to be desired. There is a lack of parking spaces so if you aren’t one of the lucky ones with a designated spot or parking lot, you must park on street. On street parking is regulated by neighborhood parking permits. Many of the residential streets are for resident parking only. You can apply for a city of Boston parking permit with proof of residency online here or visit city hall(1 city hall square, room 224). Please Note; Boston does not have visitor parking so make arrangements ahead of time if you have family or friends visiting with cars.
SUBWAY
Our subway system also known as the “T” as it is managed by the MBTA(Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). It easily connects all areas of the city. There are a few lines that are coordinated by color: the red line, the blue line, the green line, the orange line, and the silver line. We also have buses in this same system and a commuter rail which connects Boston to the Greater Boston suburbs and all the way to Rhode Island. As of 2024, a subway one-way ticket is $2.40, a bus one-way ticket is $1.70, a commuter rail one-way ticket ranges from $2.40-$13.25. Important things to know is INBOUND = going in towards the center of the city and OUTBOUND = going out towards suburbs. You can find the MBTA schedules and locations here. Much of the MBTA subway system is accessible and all of the MBTA buses and boat service are accessible.
FERRY
Boston also has available Ferry’s for every day travel. The ferry is also manage by the MBTA(Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). The ferry’s travel between Long Wharf, Rowes Wharf and Logan Airport and go out to Hull, Hingham, Charlestown Navy Yard, and seasonally to lewis mall(East Boston), Lynn. and Winthrop. A one-way ferry ticket ranges from $2.40-$9.75 and a monthly pass $90-$329. You can find more on the ferry here.
WALKING
One of the best parts about Boston is that it is such a walkable city from neighborhood to neighborhood.
BICYCLE
Boston is a bike-friendly city! With designated bike lanes on our streets for riders and access to over 4,000 bikes and 450 stations in 13 municipalities through our city’s bike share system- Bluebikes - bike riding is a fast, fun and affordable way to travel through the city and beyond. Find a station here.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS
Back Bay
Back Bay is built on the reclaimed land of the Charles River. Here you will find rows and rows of victorian brownstones. There are many architecturally significant buildings in Back Bay such as the Boston Public Library, Boston Architectural College, and the Trinity Church. Notable streets that make up Back Bay are Newbury Street, Marlborough Street, Arlington, Street, Commonwealth Ave, and Boylston Street. While Back Bay started as a luxury residential only area it now is home to many notable businesses and robust shopping all along Newbury street. Back Bay is accessed from the MBTA through numerous stops on the green and orange lines.
The North End ‘Little Italy’
Known for being Boston’s oldest residential neighborhood, the North End is home to more than 77 restaurants and is only .36 square miles. Tourists from all over flock to the North End in the warmer months to see the historic Old North Church as well as attend the yearly feasts in August and dine at the amazing restaurants. The North End is accessed through the green and orange lines at Haymarket as well as the blue line and Ferry’s at Long Wharf. Additionally there are three bluebike stations in this neighborhood.
The South End
The South End is home to victorian row-houses and many parks intertwined and has always been known for it’s diversity. The South End is residential and commercial and home to many, many fantastic restaurants and in the 50’s was known for it’s jazz community. There are also three public libraries and two of Boston’s major hospitals in the South End alone. This neighborhood can be accessed by a few stops on the green and orange lines as well as the commuter rail.
Charlestown
Aside from the glory that Ben Affleck’s ‘The Town’ gave this Boston neighborhood, Charlestown is very largely residential. This is Boston’s oldest neighborhood and still maintains a strong Irish-American population. Located North of downtown Boston, it is accessed from the North End/West End by crossing the North Washington St Bridge. Charlestown has many historic spots such as the bunker hill monument which is the end of the freedom trail, Warren Tavern, and the USS Constitution which is housed in the Charlestown Navy Yard. You can access Charlestown by the MBTA’s orange line.
Beacon hill
You may have seen images of Beacon Hill’s most famous street- Acorn street- which attracts thousands each fall and has since been blocked off to all but acorn street residents. Beacon Hill is built around the hill upon which the Massachusetts State House sits. It is a quaint neighborhood of rowhouses and brick sidewalks. There are many restaurants and shops along Beacon Hill’s Charles Street. With easy access to Boston’s Mass General Hospital many hospital workers seek to live in Beacon Hill. It is accessed by the red , green and blue lines.
South Boston ‘Southie’
Southie is known as the spot for young professionals but it also has a strong family community as well. South Boston is one of the most densley populated neighborhoods lined with triple decker buildings and a mix of new construction. There are a ton of bars along Southie’s Broadway Street and it also is home to Boston’s heavily attended annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Southie can be accessed by the redline and many people have cars in this neighborhood.
Fenway-Kenmore
Home to Fenway Park but also many of Boston’s colleges and universities so there is a heavy student population here. This neighborhood consists of brownstone townhouses and a lot of brick 5-6 story apartment buildings as well as more and more new construction buildings. There are many bars and restaurants over here that are sure to be jam packed April-September with baseball season. This neighborhood can be accessed by the green line.
Allston-Brighton
Allston-Brighton is two interlocking neighborhoods on the west side of Boston. A piece of history for this neighborhood is that it was one of the first streetcar suburbs. It is home to New Balance Headquarters and WGBH broadcasting hub. Students of Boston’s many colleges and universities reside in this neighborhood as well as many lifelong residents. There are many two-family homes and brick apartment buildings. This neighborhood can be accessed by the green line and is also an easy neighborhood to have a car as there is the space for driveways, parking lots, and ample street parking.
downtown boston/chinatown/fidi/government center
Home to a lot of booming businesses, Boston’s City Hall, and brilliant architecture. Aside from a lot of businesses this stretch of area is also home to some high-rise condo buildings, lofts, shopping, and nightlife. You will also find Boston’s famous Faneuil Hall in this area.
Seaport/Fort Point
Considered “the hottest” neighborhood in Boston with the fastest growing real estate prices is our Seaport neighborhood. Not too many years ago this part of Boston was known for being parking lots. With solely high-rise luxury condo buildings and loft style buildings, Seaport, aside from the big name companies, has an influx of restaurants, clubs, and coffee shops making it a desirable neighborhood to live in.
BOSTON’S SEASONS
Enjoying all four seasons in Boston is truly something special.
Fall
Universities are back in full swing, the leaves start to turn and the days get a little brisker. All the locals stop heading north and south respectively on the weekends so you start to feel and see the hustle and bustle of the city again. Everyone is enjoying football whether at a bar or in the home - you always know when the game is on because the sidewalks get less crowded. Some days you won’t need a jacket at all, others a light jacket, and then the day will come where that one gust of wind just brings back the days of 50 degrees and below.
winter
Boston winters can be tough, they certainly aren’t for the weak. We get our fair share of snowstorms so be prepared with a good heavy winter jacket- most prefer lengths that cover most of their legs, a warm hat and gloves and a pair of snow boots and you’ll be fine. Even if there is not snowfall you’ll find yourself in this gear as we get deeper into the winter. Each year is different but sometimes Boston’s winter weather can last through March and into April. Street cleaning gets put on pause during the winter months so you don’t have to worry about shuffling your car around if you end of street parking.
spring
The days start warming up. It’s infamously known as the time of year where you leave your home in the morning chilly and by noon you’re sweating. When the days start to get longer and the weather is warming up in Boston you can feel the electricity of everyone coming back out and enjoying time again. Residents flock to places like the esplanade, harbor walk, Boston common and the public garden to spend every sunshine opportunity back outside counting down the days to summer. You can watch all the boats start to slowly come back into the harbor. Make sure you stay on track of when your neighborhood resumes street cleaning to avoid being ticketed and towed.
summer
Summer is great in the city but you’ll definitely want to be sure your living quarters has some type of method for cooling. A lot of the buildings are old in Boston and not many have central a/c so a window unit, and fans may be necessary. In the summer people spend the warm long days on the water and the nights at any of the outdoor establishments. You can kayak on the Charles river, rent electric boats, and paddle board. A lot of the locals will head north to the mountains and lakes or south down to cape cod and the islands come Friday afternoon. Grab a Ferry or commuter rail to take some day trips out of the city yourself.
Game Days
Boston is unique in which we have 2 stadiums for 3 of our major sports league teams within 3 miles of each other. We don’t get lucky every year but most years our hockey, basketball and baseball seasons overlap for a period of time. Traffic is amplified on game days so you want to be aware of your travels during these times. Fenway Stadium (MLB’s Red Sox’s Home Field) is in our Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood - accessed by the green line - and the TD Garden (NHL’s Bruin’s Home Rink and NBA’s Celtic’s Home Court) is in our North End/West End neighborhood - accessed by the green and orange lines.
finding a place to live
Searching for a home can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Working with a professional who knows the area is very important whether you are buying or leasing. Visiting the city and being able to be physically present during the search is the best route but after working with hundreds of clients we’ve mastered and approach to successfully get you your next home working remotely through virtual tours and technology.
tools
BOS:311 app & 3-1-1 phone line: This the non-emergency phone line which is also a phone app that you can report noise complaints, concerns with your landlord, residential trash out illegally, rodent sighting, broken public equipment, potholes, street light / traffic signal outages, etc.
nextdoor.com: This is. an online forum and a great way to connect with your neighbors, make new friends, learn about events, get contractor recommendations or warnings, etc. You must submit some type of proof that you are apart of the neighborhood before getting into the forum so it remains exclusive to neighbors only.
Uber or Lyft: These are the most popular rideshare apps used around Boston aside from grabbing a cab when you can.
TrashDay app: This app reminds you of the certain days of the week in your neighborhood that is trash, recycling, yard waste, etc.
Meter Parking: Passport Parking, ParkBoston, PaybyPhone apps are the most common apps used for pay by phone meter spots.
We can’t wait to welcome you as our new fellow Bostonian. If you have any questions or concerns about relocating to Boston, feel free to comment below or reach out to us directly. We're here to help make your transition as smooth as possible!