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Moving from Boston to DC
A move from Boston to Washington, DC is a lateral between two of the most credential-heavy metros on the East Coast — but the numbers aren’t as symmetrical as people assume. DC’s median household income runs considerably higher than Boston’s, housing is moderately cheaper, and property tax is roughly half the rate. The trade-off is income tax: Massachusetts charges a flat rate, while DC’s progressive brackets can climb meaningfully higher for six-figure earners. This is a career-driven move along the Northeast Corridor, and the right moving team makes it seamless. Here’s the full comparison, and what makes Poseidon Moving & Storage the right Boston to DC moving company for this route.
Boston to DC Moving Services
Moving from Boston to Washington, DC is a mid-range interstate relocation along the most heavily traveled corridor in the country. Whether you’re leaving a triple-decker in Boston, a high-rise apartment, or a suburban colonial, the Poseidon Moving team helps you move with a clear schedule, careful handling, and support from packing to delivery.
We handle both residential and commercial moves, offering packing and unpacking services along with short- and long-term storage options when your timeline needs flexibility. Our fleet of equipped moving trucks carries everything needed for a safe move — dollies, moving pads, and the right tools for the job. Every move is staffed by expert movers from Boston to DC, who know how to protect your belongings, from tight staircases to long-haul transit.
Poseidon Moving is BBB A+ rated and has been for over a decade. Our interstate carriers are fully FMCSA licensed and insured. The route follows I-95 South through Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before entering the District — the full Northeast Corridor. Once the truck arrives in DC, crews are prepared for whatever comes next — whether that’s a rowhouse in Logan Circle, a condo in Navy Yard, or a family home in Chevy Chase or Bethesda. A dedicated coordinator tracks your shipment from Beantown to the Beltway.
Boston vs. DC: Cost of Living Comparison
Both Massachusetts and DC are expensive places to live, but the line-by-line comparison reveals meaningful differences — especially on income, property tax, and the structure of income tax — that shift the math depending on your earnings bracket.
| Category | Boston | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Cost of Living | ~48% above national avg. | ~42% above national avg. |
| Median Home Price | ~$725,000 | ~$660,000 |
| Average Rent (1BR) | ~$2,800/month | ~$2,500/month |
| Income Tax | 5% flat (+4% surtax over $1M) | 4%–10.75% progressive |
| Property Tax Rate | ~1.00% (Suffolk Co.) | ~0.56% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | ~6.5% |
| Median Household Income | ~$85,000 | ~$110,000 |
The headline here is income. DC’s median household income of ~$110,000 outpaces Boston’s ~$85,000 by roughly $25,000 — one of the largest gains in this series for a move between two already-expensive cities. That difference is driven by the concentration of federal government salaries, consulting, lobbying, legal, and policy careers that anchor the DC economy.
Property tax is the other clear win. DC’s effective rate of ~0.56% is nearly half Boston’s ~1.00%. On a $660,000 home in DC, you’d pay roughly $3,700 in annual property tax — compared to about $7,250 on a $725,000 home in Boston. That’s a $3,550 gap in favor of DC, and it hits every year. Housing also tips toward DC: Boston’s median home price of ~$725,000 sits about $65,000 above DC’s ~$660,000, and rent follows a similar pattern — ~$2,800 versus ~$2,500 for a one-bedroom, a savings of about $3,600 per year. Sales tax is nearly identical at 6.25% versus ~6.5%.
The income-tax line is where the math gets personal. Massachusetts charges a flat 5% on all income (plus a 4% surtax on income over $1 million). DC uses a progressive structure that starts at 4% but climbs to 8.5% on income between $60,000 and $250,000, then to 9.25% and eventually 10.75% above $1 million. For earners under ~$80,000, DC’s rate is actually lower than Massachusetts. For earners between $100,000 and $250,000 — the core of both cities’ professional class — DC’s effective rate runs slightly higher. The gap widens above $250,000. So the income-tax comparison depends entirely on your bracket.
DC’s economy revolves around government, policy, international affairs, and the professional services that orbit them — consulting, legal, defense contracting, and cybersecurity. The Metro rail system offers genuine car-optional living in many neighborhoods, and the city’s restaurant and cultural scene has expanded dramatically in recent years along corridors like 14th Street NW, H Street NE, and the Wharf.
Moving Cost Boston to DC
The average cost to move from Boston to DC ranges from roughly $1,200 to $4,500, depending on the size of your home, the services you select, and when you move. A studio or one-bedroom with minimal furniture typically falls on the lower end, while a full four-bedroom household with packing, crating, and specialty items can push toward the upper range or beyond.
At roughly 440 miles, this is a shorter interstate move by distance, but access conditions at both ends can affect pricing. Boston’s September 1st lease-turnover surge creates a narrow window of extremely high demand, and DC’s permit-only parking zones and elevator-access buildings add coordination layers on the delivery side. Moving in the off-season — winter or early spring — typically comes in lower than summer pricing.
Poseidon Moving & Storage offers flexible service tiers for this corridor. Our all-inclusive packages cover packing, disassembly, loading, transport, delivery, reassembly, and basic liability protection under a single flat-rate quote — no surprise fees at the door. For smaller loads or tighter budgets, ask about our truck share options, which consolidate southbound shipments to reduce per-household cost. And if your timeline is tight, our expedited service prioritizes your shipment for faster delivery.
Every quote is based on your actual inventory, not an industry average. Get your personalized quote today and lock in a number before you move.
Why Choose Us for Your Boston to DC Move
Poseidon Moving & Storage brings corridor-specific experience to every Boston-to-DC relocation. We run this stretch of I-95 regularly and understand the logistics unique to both cities.
Every relocation begins with a thorough virtual or in-home walkthrough — whether you’re in a Dorchester triple-decker, a Back Bay brownstone, a Somerville walk-up, or a single-family in Newton — and produces a binding flat-rate quote covering labor, packing materials, fuel, mileage, and basic door-to-door liability coverage. What’s quoted is what you pay — no exceptions.
What separates Poseidon on this corridor is how we handle the urban-to-urban transition. Boston’s narrow one-way streets, resident-only permit zones, and no-elevator walk-ups demand precision on the pickup side, and DC’s rowhouse-lined blocks, limited-access alleys, and building-specific delivery rules require the same attention on the drop-off. We manage parking permits, coordinate elevator reservations, and time pickups to avoid the worst of I-95 Northeast Corridor congestion. Your coordinator provides live updates from departure through final placement, so you always know where your shipment is. Request your free consultation today, and let Poseidon handle the details from first walkthrough to last box placed.
