Moving from Boston, MA, to San Francisco, CA

Coast-to-coast moving

Making a coast-to-coast move from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, is a journey of almost 3,100 miles. With that distance, it’s natural to anticipate differences in daily life. 

Boston has around 676,000 residents within the city limits and almost 5 million in the metro area. San Francisco is a bit larger of a city with 808,000 residents, but the metro is smaller, with 4.5 million people. 

Let’s learn more about the “The City,” also known as San Francisco. 

Milder weather with less precipitation

San Francisco has year-round mild weather with average temperatures varying from 46 to 67 degrees. This is quite the contrast to Boston, which experiences all four seasons with temperatures ranging from 19 degrees to the low 80s. 

You’ll get less precipitation in San Francisco, with around 25 inches of rain per year and no snow. Boston typically gets around 45 inches of rain and 48 inches of snow. While you’ll want to hang on to your rain gear, it would be an excellent time to declutter your winterwear unless you’re a frequent mountain skier.  

San Francisco history 

Boston is rich in Colonial American history, and San Francisco has a fascinating origin as well. Archeological evidence dates the early inhabitants of the area to 3000 BCE. Spanish exploration began in the late 1700s, and the Spanish settled in the area for several decades. 

In the early 1820s, San Francisco was part of the California territories Spain ceded to Mexico. After the California Gold Rush in 1849, statehood was established in 1850. San Francisco was incorporated as a city that same year, keeping its name, which means “Saint Francis” in Spanish.  

Sports fans can rejoice in SF

If you loved sports in Boston, you can still cheer for those teams, but it might be a good time to check out the local talent in San Francisco. You’ll find plenty of college sports, including football and basketball, as well as lower-league soccer clubs.  

Here are the pro teams to root for: 

  • San Francisco Giants (MLB) 
  • San Francisco 49ers (NFL) 
  • Golden State Warriors (NBA) 
  • Golden State Valkyries (WNBA) — New in 2025 

Move to San Francisco with U-Pack

U-Pack® has service centers near Boston and San Francisco, and we can make your move easy and affordable. As a self-moving service, you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle all the driving. Get your free online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.