Considering moving to Boston? The Hub offers residents endless history, entertainment, and job opportunities—on top of being the most populous metro in New England, one of the country’s most historic cities, and one of the best places to live on the East Coast! Check out these 16 things to know about living in Boston.
Thrive in a Northeastern City
Boston is a cost-effective place to live in New England! Though Boston real estate can carry a higher price tag, the city’s housing market is turning around, with growing optimism within the market and increasing buyer activity. Some residents rent before they buy a home in Boston while waiting for the housing market to open up, which lets them find the right home and area for them while saving. Housing prices in Boston are also offset by bigger salaries and inexpensive transportation. In fact, Massachusetts’ average income is one of the highest in the U.S.! Incoming or budget-sensitive residents can find affordable places to live in Boston, including trendy neighborhoods with big-city amenities like Allston-Brighton, East Boston, and Hyde Park. Bostonians can save even more money by taking public transportation and enrolling in the Mass Save program to lower their energy costs at home.
Bask in Boston’s Job Opportunities
The capital of Massachusetts provides ample career opportunities in top industries in Boston such as healthcare, professional and scientific services, and finance, thanks to its growing job market. Boston is ranked as one of the best cities for jobs and best cities for young professionals and singles due to its strong economy and diverse job market! Bostonians wanting to pursue a career in health services can find employment at some of the best hospitals in the U.S., including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. This bustling city is home to the renowned Boston University, international travel experts Grand Circle Travel, and finance giants Putnam Investments and Fidelity Investments—all of which are often hiring new employees. This also applies to Fortune 500 companies in Boston, including General Electric, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Wayfair.
Earn Your Degree at Top-Tier Schools in New England
This is a city for students, with 118 colleges and universities in Boston—the 4th-most in the country! Receive an Ivy League education in subjects like legal studies and mathematics at one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Harvard University. Pursue a degree in science or technology at another of the world’s top universities—the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Work toward a degree in one of its premier programs, including education, engineering, and healthcare at Boston University. Take part in student organizations such as the literary magazine or radio station while attending the only public research university in the city, the University of Massachusetts Boston. Learn about biology, international relations, or child development among scholars with bold ideas at Tufts University. Find graduate programs in computer science, English, and bioengineering at top-tier research institute, Northeastern University. Attend a private Jesuit institution that’s a leader in liberal arts and science at Boston College. Or study at a more affordable, accessible Boston school with programs in psychology, nursing, education, and more at Bunker Hill Community College.
Embrace Top-Notch Public Transit & Walkability
Nicknamed “The Walking City,” Boston is a pedestrian’s paradise as the third-most walkable city in America. It’s also one of the best cities to live in without a car due to all the excellent Boston public transportation options! Travel around Boston and its surrounding communities on 171 different routes with the MBTA buses. Get to Downtown Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods through quick connections on the T’s Red, Orange, Blue, and Green MBTA lines. Hop on the East Boston Ferry, Quincy Ferry, and more to set out from Boston Harbor with the MBTA Commuter Boats. Commute to and from Boston, Eastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island via regular lines—including Providence/Stoughton, Newburyport/Rockport, and Framingham/Worcester—on the MBTA commuter rail. Use the city’s bicycle-sharing program, Bluebikes, to run errands or pedal on Boston’s many bike-friendly paths. Or reach further destinations in the U.S. and beyond at Boston Logan International Airport.
Experience Every Season in Boston
You get the best of both worlds with Boston’s climate. In the summer, the average daily temperature is 73 degrees, and the average high is 82 degrees, meaning it’s rarely too hot to enjoy outdoor activities! Even though winters in Boston are cold—with an average daily temperature of 45 degrees and average yearly snowfall in Boston at 49 inches—The Hub is great at offering fun winter activities. For example, you can go ice skating at Boston Common’s Frog Pond and visit Copley Square to holiday shop and see dazzling light displays at night. Don’t forget about autumn in Boston—with its gorgeous fall foliage, Boston whale-watching season from August through October, and various haunted attractions, this city is one of the best places to visit during the fall, and residents get to enjoy it every year!
Spend Time Outdoors
Living in Boston means you get to take part in year-round recreation in one of the best cities for outdoor activities! View over 80 species of plants, ride on the iconic Swan Boats, and visit the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Boston Public Garden. Ride the carousel with your kids, browse local art, and order from food trucks at Rose Kennedy Greenway. Enjoy harbor views and people-watching, soak in the sun, and play tennis at Constitution Beach Park. Stroll the promenade for spectacular views of the Boston skyline and catch a show at the amphitheater at Piers Park—or go canoeing and take your kids to the two different playgrounds at the Charles River Esplanade. Go rowing, fishing, or walk your dog around Jamaica Pond. Explore 114 acres of beaches, hiking trails, and visitor center exhibitions on Spectacle Island. Play on the second-oldest golf course in the nation and grab a meal at Maggie’s Grill when you’re done at historic William J. Devine Golf Course. Or walk the Explorers Garden Tour, admire collections of trees, flowers, and more, and see rotating exhibits like Ghost Trees: An Augmented Reality at Arnold Arboretum.
Participate in Family-Friendly Activities in Boston
As one of the major American cities, there are plenty of things to do with your family in Boston. Visit exhibits such as the Butterfly Hollow and Raptor Ridge, and see Andean condors, Masai giraffes, pygmy hippopotamuses, and more at Franklin Park Zoo. Discover the Giant Ocean Tank, see water-dwelling animals like Atlantic harbor seals, epaulette sharks, and red-bellied piranha, and sign your kids up for summer teen internships at the New England Aquarium. Tour the city on both land and water to see landmarks like Quincy Market, Trinity Church, The New England Holocaust Memorial, and much more on Boston Duck Tours. Jump on a ferry to visit an array of islands just outside Boston—including Spectacle Island for swimming, Georges Island to explore Fort Warren, and Little Brewster Island to see Boston Light, a National Historic Landmark—all in Boston Harbor Islands State & National Park. Pause to watch street performers sing and do circus stunts, shop at unique booths and kiosks, and grab a treat or meal such as ice cream or Boston chowder at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. And check out books, ebooks, and movies, see inspiring art and architecture, and join groups such as Teen Gaming Club at Boston Public Libraries.
Live in a Gay-Friendly City
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and as its capital, Boston has become a hub for the LGBTQ community—with one of the largest LGBTQ populations on the East Coast! Community support is shown in numerous ways—including Fenway Health’s commitment to healthcare and a strong presence of LGBTQ+ groups like Boston Gaymers, Boston Gay Basketball League, Women’s Boston Gay Basketball League, Gay4Good Boston, and more. Access tons of Boston LGBTQ resources, such as Boston Area Trans Support and the Bisexual Resource Center. Catch the parade, block party, local and national headliners’ performances, and more at week-long Boston Pride. Experience cabaret acts, drag shows, and regular karaoke nights at Jacque’s Cabaret. Grab a drink and attend Queeraoke on Thursdays, movie screenings, and live music in genres including hip-hop, dance, and punk at Midway Cafe. Have a meal of classic American favorites while enjoying a cabaret concert, and stick around for the dance club later in the night at Club Cafe. Or bite into Fried Crab Cakes or Pork Milanese, then seamlessly transform your evening into a nightclub vibe with colorful lights and dancing every night of the week at dbar.
Meet Bostonians at Community Events & Festivals
An array of events and festivals in Boston throughout the year are worthy of participation! Amp up your New Year’s Eve with musical performances, ice sculptures, and free carousel rides at First Night. Glide on a parade float or watch from the crowd to enjoy dance troupes, live music, and more at the iconic Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Compete, volunteer, or cheer on the runners from the sidelines at the Boston Marathon. Book your spot to see bands such as past headliners The Strokes, Foo Fighters, and Metallica at the Boston Calling music festival. Listen to the Boston Pops Orchestra while eating Driscoll’s ice cream and watching the fireworks blast at the 4th of July Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Or party on Independence Day at some of Boston’s best historic landmarks with live music performances, a 21-gun salute, and more at Boston Harborfest.
Join Boston’s Local Arts Scene
The Boston arts scene is varied and vibrant, and multiple performing arts centers can be found near each other in the Boston theater district. Get tickets to Broadway musicals like SIX, shows such as An Evening with John Cusack, and children’s entertainment like “The Wiggles” at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. Relish shows like Swan Lake, Book of Mormon, and Back to the Future at the acclaimed Citizens Opera House. Marvel at Shakespeare plays all year long, including performances by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company at the free Shakespeare on the Common in the summer. Create cherished memories during ballets like The Nutcracker, Romeo et Juliette, and Cinderella with the Boston Ballet. Relax with both modern music and classical performances from artists such as Tchaikovsky and Beethoven with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. And see visual art such as video installations, paintings, photography, and more, with exhibits like Charles Atlas: About Time at ICA Watershed.
Tour Fantastic Museums
Nearly 60 museums in Boston cover a wide variety of topics, perfect for anyone living in or visiting this capital city! Study the works of world-class artists like Rembrandt, Monet, and Kahlo, and check out exhibits such as Deep Waters: Four Artists and the Sea at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Browse over 7,500 paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and other artworks—as well as over 1,500 rare books—from a private collector at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Immerse yourself in interactive exhibits, live historical reenactments, and a replica of the 18th-century vessels that started a revolution at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Spark your excitement for maritime culture with exhibitions such as “Old Ironsides” in War and Peace, play mini-golf, and explore the naval yard with the USS Constitution Museum. Don’t miss touring the home of a famous American patriot, viewing artifacts owned by him, and strolling the period gardens at The Paul Revere House. And expand your mind with exhibits including Colossal Fossil: Triceratops Cliff, learn about space in the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and check out the Centers for Public Science Learning for events like Music As Medicine and the Boston Youth Climate Summit at the Museum of Science.
Dive into American History
This old city was a major location during the American Revolution, so there are historical sites everywhere, and they’re some of the best things to see and do in Boston. Visit memorials including the Declaration of Independence Tablet and Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and ride the carousel at Boston Common, the oldest park in the U.S. Understand America’s colonial history by walking the 2.5-mile route to see important Boston landmarks such as King’s Chapel, the Boston Massacre Site, and the Old State House, all on the Freedom Trail. Gather where the colonists did to challenge the British government before the Revolution, including planning the Boston Tea Party, and see exhibits like Voices of Protest at the Old South Meeting House. Remember the phrase, “One if by land, two if by sea” while visiting the site where the lanterns were hung as a sign from Paul Revere that the British were coming, and see an accurate bust of George Washington at Old North Church. Climb the tower for spectacular views, tour the museum, and learn about one of the first battles of the American Revolution at the Bunker Hill Monument. Pay your respects to famous Americans—including the real Mother Goose and Declaration of Independence signers Samuel Adams and John Hancock—at Granary Burying Ground. And honor the history of Boston’s African-American community, with stops at sites like the Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial and the Museum of African American History along the Black Heritage Trail.
Cheer on Boston Sports Teams
A sports fan’s paradise, Boston is one of the best sports cities in America because of its quality professional teams and passionate fans! Enjoy America’s pastime with the Boston Red Sox (MLB) at the famous Fenway Park. Catch the Boston Bruins (NHL) on the ice at TD Garden—or come back after the ice is swapped for parquet to cheer for the Boston Celtics (NBA). Root for the Boston College Eagles (NCAA) at a football game at their Alumni Stadium. Choose women’s or men’s Harvard Crimson (NCAA) basketball teams to watch live at Lavietes Pavilion. Support women’s professional football by attending a Boston Renegades (WFA) game at Harry Della Russo Stadium. And head to nearby Gillette Stadium to see the six-time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots (NFL).
Eat at Amazing Restaurants
Boston is well-known for its New England clam chowder, Boston baked beans, and the Fenway Frank—but that’s not all this city serves. Head to North End for Italian dishes, Chinatown for Asian delicacies, Roxbury for Caribbean plates, or stay near the Boston Waterfront for fresh seafood. Delight a date with Taleggio Cappelletti or Rigatoni Amatriciana and a glass of red or white at Italian ristorante Tonino. Try Boston seafood with options like Wellfleet Clam Chowder and Spanish Octopus from Neptune Oyster—or Salmon Gravlax and Herb Crusted Baked Hake at Row 34. Make a reservation for Greek specialties including Lalangia, Souvla, and Trigona for dessert at Krasi. Sample Ethiopian favorites such as Doro Wat, Lega Tibs, and Veggie Fir Fir at Blue Nile Restaurant. Taste elegant Japanese cuisine with chef-chosen tasting menus that change nightly and can include nigiri, oysters, Wagyu beef, beverage pairings, and more at o ya. Chill in an iconic Boston hangout since 1903 with a slice of Italian Cheese or The Works Pizza, or create your own with options such as garlic, sausage, and chicken at Santarpio’s Pizza. Or feast on the Giant Norm Burger or Frasier’s Chicken Panini while sipping a Cheers Root Beer at Cheers, the bar that inspired the TV show!
Hop on the Brewery Scene in Boston
Whether you’re looking to make new memories with friends or take advantage of the local brewery scene—Boston offers tasty brews for every mood! Considering doing a pub crawl of the best breweries in Boston? Check out a Boston Brew Tour, add some trivia to your event with the Freedom Trail Pub Crawl—or go on a Haunted Pub Crawl for dark stories of wicked times, Boston ghosts, and more. Listen to records while enjoying drinks like a Lone Pine Brightside IPA, Hudson North Ginger Citrus semi-dry Cider, or Maui Coconut Hiwa Porter at Bukowski Tavern—and ask the bartender if you can check-out a record! Looking for beer gardens in Boston? Head to Dorchester Brewing Company to enjoy brews like Beantown Vanilla Latte stout, Tart Reverie Fruited Kettle Sour, and more on their rooftop beer garden or while admiring one-of-a-kind pieces in their in-house Museum of Bad Art. Enjoy live music in Boston, award-winning pizza, and an expansive patio while sipping a Santilli IPA, Cinnamon Churros lager, Furth wheat beer, and more at Night Shift Brewing. And try a Boston Lager or Blackberry Raspberry Gose or try something new at a tour experience at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery.
Give the Nightlife a Try
There are a slew of fun Boston nightlife options to choose from on any given evening. Indulge in entertainment from musicians like Kate Pierson, comedians including Russell Peters, and talks by experts such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, all at The Wilbur. Laugh the night away with famous comedians including Jessimae Peluso and Chris Hardwick, and special events like the Best of Boston NYE Showcase and Dragtacular Holiday Brunch at Laugh Boston. See both local and famous musical acts in genres including indie, pop, and rock in a more intimate setting at Brighton Music Hall. Do a bit of everything, like dance, play Skee-ball, grab food like an Old Fashioned Cheeseburger, and watch the game on Boston’s largest high-def TV, all on four different levels at The Greatest Bar. Look for the secret phone number to gain access to the “hidden” alley entrance to an intriguing speakeasy, with drinks including the Pick Me Girl and Broken Jaw, at OFFSUIT. Or order cocktails such as the Liquid Transportation, a glass of Pinot Grigio or Zinfandel, or a Mix & Match Wine Flight at Sip Wine Bar & Kitchen.
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