Moving from Boston, MA, to Charleston, SC

Moving from the East Coast to the Deep South

When you move from Boston, Massachusetts, known as “Beantown,” to “The Holy City” of Charleston, South Carolina, you’ll want to be ready for some changes as you adjust to your new home in the south. As the most populous city in South Carolina, Charleston is home to just over 150,000 people and nearly 800,000 in the metropolitan area, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The city offers more than just southern charm to new residents.

Explore Charleston’s Colonial history

Named for King Charles II, Charleston was founded in 1670 in one of the 13 original colonies of the United States. Its location on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean made it a busy shipping port. The most popular cash crops in the city were rice, cotton and indigo plants (used primarily for dyeing fabrics). Many of the city’s Colonial-era buildings and sites are still standing and open for touring, including:

  • Dock Street Theatre
  • Fort Sumter National Monument
  • Fort Moultrie
  • Heyward-Washington House
  • Morris Island Lighthouse
  • Old Exchange Building
  • Powder Magazine
     

Charleston culture at its finest

Charleston has a unique blend of Southern U.S. culture with English, French, and West African ties. It’s an exciting place to live with its art, music and fashion scenes. Its local cuisine features seafood and rice dishes with British and French influences.

The Spoleto Festival USA is an annual 17-day arts festival in Charleston that features over 100 individual artists. The city is also known for the Charleston dance craze of the 1920s and the early development of jazz music. Charleston was home to the first theatre in America and still has a vibrant professional company for actors.

Working and learning in Charleston

Although the average salaries are lower than national averages in Charleston, the job market is good, with unemployment rates lower than the national average. The hospitality and service industries are strong, especially during the summer months. Other prominent sectors include technology, sales, advertising, marketing and art. With 26 public and 55 private schools in the city, Charleston can serve

the K-12 educational needs of families. Adult learners can seek higher education without leaving home at the College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, Trident Technical College, The Citadel, the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston School of Law or the American College of the Building Arts.

U-Pack can move you south

With service centers near Boston and Charleston, U-Pack® is equipped to help with your long-distance move. We’re a self-moving service with over 25 years of experience. Our service is easy — you do the packing, loading and unloading, and then we take care of transporting your things. Get a free online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.