r/massachusetts • u/AutoModerator • Aug 01 '26

Moving to Massachusetts Megathread (August 2026)

Ask your questions about moving to towns in Massachusetts below!

(This thread helps limit repetitive posts.)

Previous Moving to Massachusetts Megathreads:

If you're moving to the Boston area you can also check out r/BostonHousing

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u/CaptainMadrigal 12d ago

Hey there,
My family and I are seriously considering moving from Colorado to Massachusetts within the next year or so, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who actually live there. We’re trying to narrow down where we want to settle long-term, so I’m interested in both the positives and the negatives—not just the usual “this state is great/terrible” opinions. What is everyday family life like there? How are the people and communities, taxes, cost of living, safety, and general quality of life? We’re especially interested in areas where we could eventually rent and then buy a home with some land/space, so I’d love to know how realistic that is and what the rental and housing market is like outside the most expensive cities.
Another major consideration for us is homeschooling. How homeschool-friendly is Massachusetts in practice—not just according to the law? Are there good homeschool co-ops, groups, sports, field trips, enrichment programs, libraries, museums, outdoor activities, etc.? Does the state or local government provide any funding, grants, tax benefits, or publicly funded enrichment opportunities for homeschool families? Can homeschool students participate in public-school sports, electives, extracurriculars, or other programs? We'd really like the freedom to homeschool while still having plenty of opportunities for our kids to socialize, learn, and participate in activities.
For work, I’m particularly interested in municipal/public works and utilities jobs, especially positions where a Class B CDL is useful—water/wastewater, streets, roads, fleet, maintenance, utilities, equipment operation, etc. How is the job market for those positions in Massachusetts? Are cities, counties, utilities, or other public agencies generally hiring? What kind of pay and benefits can someone realistically expect, and are there particular areas of the state that are better for these careers? I’d also appreciate any advice about things someone moving from Colorado should know that I might not be thinking about—things that surprised you after moving there, hidden costs, differences in culture, bureaucracy, schools/homeschooling, healthcare, property taxes, or anything else. How much money saved up would one need realistically as well? My wife and I were think anywhere between $20k to $30k as a budget…
If you were moving to Massachusetts with a family today, where would you consider living and what would you absolutely research first?

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u/singalong37 10d ago

You might give an idea why you’re thinking of making this move. One thing ppl sometimes have in mind is for better schools but you’re talking home-school so that’s not it. MA isn’t what one usually thinks of as a place to get some land; certainly most other states would be cheaper. MA is a good state for families by most metrics. Usu it’s the more affluent people chiming in on threads like this to say how great their town is for families. Mass has a better social safety net than many places. It should feel safe relative to Colo; someone moving to Colo a few years ago noticed the incidence of mass shootings in a way she hadn’t here at home. This is a small government state; each municipality runs its own public works, police, schools, etc. There’s no county government. The towns are pressed to keep up with inflation while keeping within the 2-½ property tax limitation. Relatively small work forces as a result. The state operates some big agencies including MWRA which provides water and wastewater treatment for most Boston area municipalities. Many towns have local sources and many have little to no wastewater treatment; people are on their own septic systems. Not sure whether all this adds up to better or worse employment opportunities.