Hawaii to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs lower housing prices), food & health (like Poke vs Crab Cakes), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cakes & Pit Beef
- Maryland housing costs are 52% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Maryland is 36.38% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Maryland movers is AT Movers
Hawaii to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Maryland
- High living costs
- Limited job market
- Tropical storms risk
- Island isolation
- Lower housing prices
- Diverse job opportunities
- Fewer weather extremes
- Easy mainland access
- No ocean coastline
- Cold winters
- Less cultural uniqueness
- More transient population
- Beautiful beaches
- Mild climate
- Rich culture
- Strong community vibe
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Maryland
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to lower housing prices
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Maryland with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the risk of tropical storms in Hawaii for fewer weather extremes in Maryland
- Get ready for easy mainland access in Maryland
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with no ocean coastline in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of a mild climate and have to settle with the con of cold winters
- Time to bid farewell to a rich culture and get used to less cultural uniqueness in Maryland
- Swap a strong community vibe for a more transient population
Hawaii vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Crab Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Pit Beef |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Vegan Crab Cake |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Crab Cakes of Maryland. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Maryland residents know they have tasty Pit Beef and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Crab Cake of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Matsumoto Shave Ice. After the boxes are unpacked in Maryland, don't wait too long before making your way to Maryland's acclaimed eateries like The Crab Claw, LP Steamers, and Bertha's Mussels.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maryland, compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Maryland
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Access to amenities, Historic features |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanai, Maryland real estate listings often highlight features like access to amenities and historic features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maryland is more walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maryland is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Maryland has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Maryland housing costs are 52% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased by 33% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Maryland is 36.38% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Maryland
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 87°F / 66°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 42°F / 29°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7 | 44.5 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 20.6 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Maryland. Maryland gets 21% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Maryland has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Maryland.
- The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 2 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Maryland are 34 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maryland. Maryland receives 19.2 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Maryland
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 1.4% - 11% | 2% - 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 1.09% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 3% more than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Maryland is 25% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in MD is 2% - 5.75% compared to 1.4% - 11% in HI
- The affluence in Maryland is high compared to moderate in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Maryland compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Maryland
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Liberal/Democratic |
Local Politics | Strong focus on environmental policies | Active in social justice issues |
Religion | Christianity, Buddhism | Christianity, Judaism |
- Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as Christianity and Judaism
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity and Buddhism
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Maryland
Comparison | Hawaii | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii | University of Maryland-College Park Towson University University of Maryland-Baltimore County |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) | Fulton Elementary (Fulton) Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Bradley Hills Elementary School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) Herbert Hoover Middle (Potomac) Cabin John Middle School (Potomac) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu) | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) Landon School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) Island Pacific Academy (Kapolei) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington D.C.) Georgetown Day School (Washington D.C.) The Bullis School (Potomac) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
Top Hawaii to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.