Arkansas to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,024 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme humidity vs milder summers), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Crab Cakes), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Smoked BBQ Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cakes & Steamed Crabs
- Maryland housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Maryland is 41.76% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Maryland will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Maryland movers is AT Movers
Arkansas to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Maryland
- Extreme humidity
- Limited public transit
- Fewer job opportunities
- Limited cultural events
- Milder summers
- Comprehensive transit systems
- Diverse job market
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher expenses
- Faster lifestyle
- More congested cities
- Denser urban areas
- Lower cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Family-friendly communities
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Maryland
- Say goodbye to extreme humidity and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to Maryland with comprehensive transit systems
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of Arkansas for a diverse job market in Maryland
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Maryland
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Arkansas to live with higher expenses in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace of life and have to settle for the con of a faster lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to family-friendly communities and get used to more congested cities in Maryland
- Swap natural beauty for denser urban areas
Arkansas vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Crab Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked BBQ Pork | Steamed Crabs |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Vegetable Crab Soup |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Arkansas to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Crab Cakes of Maryland. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Smoked BBQ Pork and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Maryland residents know they have tasty Steamed Crabs and Soft Shell Crab Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Crab Soup of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like Sim's Barbecue, McClard's Bar-B-Q, and Doe's Eat Place. After the boxes are unpacked in Maryland, don't wait too long before making your way to Maryland's acclaimed eateries like Phillips Seafood, Bertha's Mussels, and Faidley Seafood at Lexington Market.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maryland compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Maryland
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, Natural scenery | Proximity to amenities, Waterfront views |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and natural scenery, Maryland real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and waterfront views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Maryland is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Maryland is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Maryland has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Maryland housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased 33% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Maryland is 41.76% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Maryland
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Floods | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 72Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 32Β°F | 42Β°F / 25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 40-45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 20.5" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Maryland. Maryland gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Maryland has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in Maryland.
- The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 3 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maryland. Maryland receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Maryland
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.6% | 1.1% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Significant | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 71% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Maryland will be 38% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in MD is 5.75% compared to 5.9% in AR
- The affluence in Maryland is high compared to moderate in Arkansas
- The poverty level is lower in Maryland compared to higher in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Arkansas and moderate in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Maryland
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | More Republican | More Democratic |
Religion | Largely Christian | Diverse, with significant Christian & Jewish communities |
- Arkansas tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as diverse, with significant Christian and Jewish communities
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Maryland
Comparison | Arkansas | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School Fayetteville; Vandergriff Elementary School Fayetteville; Forest Park Elementary School Little Rock | Fulton Elementary School Fulton; Cold Spring Elementary School Potomac; Stone Mill Elementary School North Potomac |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy Bentonville; LISA Academy North Sherwood; Fulbright Junior High School Bentonville | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda; Herbert Hoover Middle School Potomac; Cabin John Middle School Potomac |
Top 3 High School Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Bentonville High School Bentonville; Central High School Little Rock | Walt Whitman High School Bethesda; Winston Churchill High School Potomac; Thomas S. Wootton High School Rockville |
Top 3 private high schools | Shiloh Christian School Springdale; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock; Pulaski Academy Little Rock | Gilman School Baltimore; Holton-Arms School Bethesda; Landon School Bethesda |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School Little Rock; Subiaco Academy Subiaco; Arkansas Baptist School Little Rock | Sidwell Friends School Washington; The Bullis School Potomac; Georgetown Preparatory School North Bethesda |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville School District Rogers School District | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
How Much Do Arkansas to Maryland Movers Cost?
Moving 1,024 miles from Arkansas to Maryland will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,783 | 300 ft3 | $5.94 |
1 Bedroom | $2,652 | 450 ft3 | $5.89 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,383 | 750 ft3 | $5.84 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,373 | 1100 ft3 | $5.79 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,189 | 1600 ft3 | $5.74 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,248 | 1800 ft3 | $5.69 |
Top Arkansas to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.