Industry-trained crews
Local moving companies in Massachusetts
- Oscar's Moving Company: 5 out of 5 stars
- Boston Best Rate Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Olympia Moving & Storage: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Gallo Moving & Storage, LLC: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- StairHopper Movers: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
- Damage to items
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Unexpected charges
Company Info
State license #: 31320
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 1637689
Alternate Names: Oscar's Moving Company
Oscar's Moving Company, established in 2008, specializes in local residential moving services in and around Newton, MA. Unlike many nearby movers, Oscar's Moving Company boasts a stellar reputation with a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, an impressive 4.8-star average on Google My Business, and a solid 3.8-star average on Yelp from 143 reviews. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing and unpacking, and even have the capability to move pianos. Customers can pay by credit card, though a deposit is required.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Affordable rates
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Damage to items
- Poor complaint handling
Company Info
State license #: 31391
Years in Business: 19
DOT #: 1718049
Alternate Names: Flat Rate Moving & Storage, Inc.
Boston Best Rate Movers has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around Waltham, MA since 2006. Unlike many nearby moving companies, they offer a comprehensive range of services including packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items, making them an excellent choice for meticulous movers. Clients consistently praise their reliability, as evidenced by their 4.7 average rating across 32 Yelp reviews and 530 Google reviews, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, their no-deposit policy and acceptance of credit cards add to their customer-friendly approach.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
- Efficient service
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
- Damage to items
- Inaccurate estimates
- Lack of communication
Company Info
State license #: 70719
Years in Business: 31
DOT #: 70719
Olympia Moving & Storage, located in Watertown, MA, has been providing exceptional local residential moving services since 1994. They stand out among nearby moving companies with their comprehensive offerings, including packing and unpacking services, and the ability to move delicate items such as pianos, antiques, and safes. Their reputation is solid, boasting a Yelp average rating of 4.1 from 148 reviews, a Google My Business rating of 4.5 from 229 reviews, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Olympia Moving & Storage also accepts credit cards and offers full valuation insurance coverage, ensuring peace of mind for their customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOD certified
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
- Damage to items
- Unexpected charges
- Misplaced or lost items
Company Info
State license #: 1420771
Years in Business: 19
DOT #: 1420771
Gallo Moving & Storage, LLC, based in Milford, MA, has been a trusted name in local residential moving since 2006. Known for their impressive track record, they boast an average rating of 4.8 from 134 Google reviews and a 4.1 average from 30 Yelp reviews, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many other nearby movers, Gallo offers comprehensive services, including packing, unpacking, and crating, as well as specialized moving for pianos, pool tables, and antiques. Clients appreciate their flexible payment options, with no deposit required and full valuation insurance coverage provided.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Unexpected charges
- Damage to items
Company Info
State license #: 31321
Years in Business: 21
DOT #: 1696867
StairHopper Movers, a trusted name in local residential moving since 2004, serves the Boston, MA area with exemplary service. Known for their reliability, they stand out among local competitors with impressive consumer reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.8 on Yelp and a flawless 5.0 on Google. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they offer comprehensive moving solutions, including packing, unpacking, and specialized services for fragile items and artwork. While a deposit is required, they accept both cash and credit cards, ensuring flexibility and peace of mind for their customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Things to know before moving from Massachusetts to Chicago, IL
Cost of living: Massachusetts vs Chicago, IL
| Massachusetts | Chicago | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,588 | $2,045 |
| Average home value | $623,131 | $295,743 |
| Average income (per capita) | $96,505 | $71,566 |
| Unemployment rate | 4% | 9% |
| State income tax | 9% | 5% |
Chicago sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo
- Rent is about 29% more expensive in Chicago than in Massachusetts.
- Home prices are about 53% lower in Chicago than in Massachusetts.
- The average income is about 26% lower in Chicago than in Massachusetts.
- Chicago has a higher unemployment rate than Massachusetts by about 131%.
- Income taxes are 45% lower in Chicago than in Massachusetts.
How life is different in Chicago from Massachusetts
| Chicago | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,746,388 | 7,001,399 |
| Political leaning | Democrat 74-24 | Democratic 61.5-36.3 |
| Summer high | 84ºF | 82ºF |
| Winter low | 19ºF | 16ºF |
| Annual rain | 38" | 49" |
| Annual snow | 35" | 47" |
| Crime index | 35.19 | 13.92 |
Chicago sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
- The population of Chicago is approximately 61% lower than the population of Massachusetts.
- In the last presidential election, Chicago voted Democrat and Massachusetts voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Chicago is 84ºF and in Massachusetts, it’s 82ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Chicago reaches the temperature of 19ºF and Massachusetts gets down to 16ºF.
- You can expect about 38 inches of annual rainfall in Chicago vs 49 inches of rainfall in Massachusetts.
- In Chicago, it snows about 35 inches annually vs 47 inches of snow in Massachusetts.
- Chicago has a higher crime rate than Massachusetts with a crime index of 35.19 vs 13.92.
Things to do in Chicago
Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Chicago.
Museums in Chicago
- The Field Museum
- Shedd Aquarium
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Chicago History Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Smart Museum of Art
- The Oriental Institute Museum
- Adler Planetarium
- DuSable Museum of African American History
- The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- National Museum of Mexican Art
Parks in Chicago
- Millennium Park
- Grant Park
- The 606
- Lincoln Park
- Garfield Park
- Jackson Park
- Maggie Daley Park
- South Shore Cultural Center Park
- Humboldt Park
- Douglass Park
Sports Teams in Chicago
- Chicago Bears (NFL)
- Chicago Cubs (MLB)
- Chicago White Sox (MLB)
- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- Chicago Bulls (NBA)
- Chicago Fire (MLS)
- Chicago Sky (WNBA)
Universities in Chicago
- Chicago State University
- Governors State University
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Northern Illinois University
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Aurora University
- Benedictine University
- Concordia University Chicago
- DePaul University
- Dominican University
- East–West University
- Elmhurst University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Judson University
- Kendall College
- Lewis University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Midwestern University
- National Louis University
- National University of Health Sciences
- North Park University
- Northwestern University
- Resurrection University
- Roosevelt University
- Saint Xavier University
- Trinity International University
- University of Chicago
- University of St. Francis
- University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Other considerations when moving to Chicago, IL
- Weather: Although Chicago gets less snowfall than surrounding areas in the Midwest and the Great Lakes region, heavy snowfall could still affect your move in the wintertime.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission. To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Illinois moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Illinois does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Illinois. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound. For more extensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Compare the pros and cons of Massachusetts vs. Chicago, IL
Comparing the pros of Massachusetts vs. Chicago, IL:
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in Massachusetts vs Chicago side-by-side.
| Pros of living in Massachusetts | Pros of living in Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Natural beauty | Bountiful arts and recreational activities |
| Excellent education system | Delicious food |
| Delicious seafood | Abundant entertainment |
| Bountiful recreational opportunities | Intense sports culture |
| Home to Boston | Ample economic opportunity |
Comparing the cons of living in Massachusetts vs. Chicago, IL:
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, these are the things to be aware of when leaving Massachusetts for Chicago.
| Cons of living in Massachusetts | Cons of living in Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Bad traffic | High crime rate |
| Poor driving conditions | Temperamental weather |
| Harsh winter weather | Terrible traffic |
| High cost of living | High taxes |
| Peculiar liquor laws | Pollution |
FAQ
How long does a move from Massachusetts to Chicago take?
The time frame for a move from Massachusetts to Chicago, IL, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.
Obviously, the further upstate you are in Massachusetts, the longer the drive time to Chicago will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.
With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to Chicago from Massachusetts can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.
How far in advance should I book movers when moving from Massachusetts to Chicago?
Because of the 971-mile move, it’s best to book your move from Massachusetts to Chicago as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.
What time of year is the cheapest to move to Chicago, IL?
With the summer highs of 84ºF and the winter lows of 19ºF, most people move to Chicago from Massachusetts during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to Chicago during summer or winter.
