Moving from San Jose, CA to Boston, MA
About 3,123 miles across a state line, from California into Massachusetts, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from San Jose, CA to Boston, MA covers about 3,123 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $14,054 – $18,738 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 107 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 3,123 miles from California to Massachusetts. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $14,054 – $18,738 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 7 days on the road (about 57 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from San Jose to Boston
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $10,540 – $14,054 | $7,589 – $10,119 | $5,059 – $6,746 |
| 1 bedroom | $12,648 – $16,864 | $9,107 – $12,142 | $6,071 – $8,095 |
| 2 bedrooms | $14,054 – $18,738 | $10,119 – $13,491 | $6,746 – $8,994 |
| 3 bedrooms | $16,162 – $21,549 | $11,636 – $15,515 | $7,758 – $10,343 |
| 4 bedrooms | $18,270 – $24,359 | $13,154 – $17,539 | $8,769 – $11,693 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $21,080 – $28,107 | $15,178 – $20,237 | $10,119 – $13,491 |
Transport only, for an estimated 3,123 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, San Jose to Boston
3,123 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $15,615. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $14,054 to $18,738, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from San Jose to Boston
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 107 people a year (±62) moved from Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose, to Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston. Going the other way: about 367 people a year (±270). Movers from Santa Clara County make up 0.2% of the 64,488 people a year who moved into Suffolk County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 13,810 people a year (±2,866) moving from California to Massachusetts and about 15,720 people a year (±3,343) from Massachusetts to California — a net gain for California of about 1,910 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 11,575 ±1,281 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 8,832 ±1,122 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 4,693 ±747 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 4,402 ±799 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 4,042 ±855 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 15,398 ±1,386 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 7,422 ±847 |
| Essex County, MA | 2,813 ±534 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 2,372 ±493 |
| Worcester County, MA | 1,552 ±260 |
Licensed movers at each end
41 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Jose (186 counting those licensed only inside California). 27 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 11.0% of their 227 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 2970 | Union City · 20 mi | 25 trucks | 19 | 18.8% of 16 |
| Nor-Cal Moving ServicesUSDOT 1844592 | Hayward · 24 mi | 23 trucks | 29 | 7.1% of 28 |
| Ontrack Moving LLCUSDOT 2551548 | Hayward · 24 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 0.0% of 25 |
| Careful MoversUSDOT 1464935 | Union City · 20 mi | 14 trucks | 24 | 23.8% of 21 |
| Efficient Moving ServicesUSDOT 2666259 | Hayward · 22 mi | 14 trucks | 24 | 13.3% of 15 |
| S & M Moving and LogisticsUSDOT 4206002 | Fremont · 12 mi | 9 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Boston end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Boston: Gentle Giant Moving Company (Winchester, 88 trucks), Olympia Moving & Storage (Watertown Town, 70 trucks), DN Van Lines Moving & Storage (Northborough, 32 trucks), Stairhopper Movers LLC (Everett, 31 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Massachusetts, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book San Jose to Boston
Insist on a survey
Over 3,123 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 3,123 miles of handling.
Arriving in Boston
A local move inside Boston later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Boston are Nashua (about 41 mi), Worcester (about 45 mi), Providence (about 48 mi).
Other routes from San Jose
All routes from San Jose, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose to Fremont, CA | ~13 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to San Francisco, CA | ~49 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Modesto, CA | ~62 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Stockton, CA | ~64 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Sacramento, CA | ~103 mi | $464 – $618 |
| San Jose to Roseville, CA | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| San Jose to Fresno, CA | ~144 mi | $648 – $864 |
| San Jose to Reno, NV | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
Also moving to Boston: from Worcester, MA, from Nashua, NH, from Providence, RI, from Warwick, RI.
San Jose to Boston moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Jose to Boston?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 3,123 miles cost about $10,540 – $14,054 for a studio, $14,054 – $18,738 for a two-bedroom home and $16,162 – $21,549 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Jose to Boston take?
The drive is 7 days on the road (about 57 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from San Jose to Boston?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,746 – $8,994 for a two-bedroom home, against $14,054 – $18,738 with full-service movers; a moving container is $10,119 – $13,491.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Jose to Boston?
Yes. San Jose is in California and Boston is in Massachusetts, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 41 listed movers within 30 miles of San Jose hold it.
How many people move from San Jose to Boston each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 107 people a year (margin of error ±62) moved from Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose, to Suffolk County, which contains Boston.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.