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Readers: What is it really like to move in Boston?

Tell us your cautionary tales for navigating moving in Boston.

Ashford Street on Sept. 1, 2022. -Lane Turner/Globe Staff Lane Turner/Globe Staff

By Nia Harmon

Boston is nothing short of a desirable city for students to embark on their educational and professional journey. Home to the oldest university in the United States and ranked as the “most educated” state in the country in a 2024 report by WalletHub, it is no wonder that every year thousands of students flock to Massachusetts pursuing higher education. 

With every new chapter comes its challenges, and one particular day in Boston has proven to bring a variety of obstacles for students, parents, locals and movers alike each year. 

The infamous September 1 move-in day has earned nicknames and phrases that capture the chaos of moving in a major city, such as “Allston Christmas” – a free-for-all of unwanted home items left on neighborhood sidewalks – and “Storrowing,” where moving trucks can find themselves stuck and damaged if not being able to clear the 10-foot-height limit of the bridge on Storrow Drive. 

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Whether moving into an on-campus dorm or an apartment around the Greater Boston area, the streets and sidewalks remain busy and cramped as move-ins take place.

If you have a moving horror story – or some advice on what first-time movers should know – we want to hear it. Whether you or someone you know has been “Storrowed” before, you found yourself waiting for hours in a car que to move into your dorm room, or you have a staple home item on the sidewalk by way of “Allston Christmas,” tell us your story and any tips you may have for others who may soon be making the move. 

Fill out the survey below or send an e-mail to [email protected], and your response may appear in an upcoming Boston.com article. 

What's your most memorable story about moving in Boston?

If you're moving in yourself, are helping someone move, or are just an observer, we want to hear from you.
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