Hawaii to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, cape cod), 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 Lobster Roll & Lobster
- Maine housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Maine is 38.05% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Maine movers is SC Moving Services
Hawaii to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Maine
- High cost of living
- Limited land area
- Hurricane season
- Traffic congestion
- Invasive species
- Affordable housing
- Spacious landscapes
- Mild summer weather
- Less crowded roads
- Diverse ecosystems
- Cold winters
- Limited ocean beaches
- Cultural adjustment
- Fewer tropical species
- Rural living pace
- Year-round warmth
- Beach access
- Unique culture
- Exotic flora and fauna
- Island lifestyle
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Maine
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from the limited land area and moving to Maine with spacious landscapes
- Swap the hurricane season of Hawaii for mild summer weather in Maine
- Get ready for less crowded roads in Maine
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from year-round warmth in Hawaii to live with cold winters in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of beach access and have to settle for the con of limited ocean beaches
- Time to bid farewell to unique culture and get used to cultural adjustments in Maine
- Swap exotic flora and fauna for fewer tropical species
Hawaii vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Lobster |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Poi | Wild Blueberry Pie |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Italian Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Poi they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Blueberry Pie of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Alan Wong's Restaurant, and Ono Hawaiian BBQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Maine, don't wait too long before making your way to Maine's acclaimed eateries like Eventide Oyster Co., Fore Street, and Duckfat.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Maine
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Lakefront, Acreage |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like lakefront properties and acreage.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Maine is less walkable than Hawaii.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Maine is less bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Maine housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased 70% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Maine is 38.05% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Maine
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Snowstorms, Ice storms |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 79°F / 59°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 31°F / 13°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7" | 43.2" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Maine; Maine gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Maine 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 snowstorms and ice storms in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 6 degrees colder than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Maine are 50 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine; Maine receives 20.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Maine
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 4.0-11.0 | 5.8-7.15 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28 | 1.30 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.0 | 5.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Agriculture, Healthcare, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Visible | Less Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 25% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in Maine is 30% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in ME is 5.8-7.15 compared to 4.0-11.0 in HI
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Maine compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Hawaii and less visible in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Maine
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | High engagement in environmental & indigenous rights | High engagement in environmental & healthcare reform |
Religion | Mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and traditional Hawaiian faiths | Primarily Christianity, with a secular portion of the population |
- Hawaii tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Maine's religious environment can be described as primarily Christianity with a secular portion of the population
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and traditional Hawaiian faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Maine
Comparison | Hawaii | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii | University of Maine Bates College Bowdoin College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) | Cape Elizabeth School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Elementary School (Falmouth) Yarmouth Schools (Yarmouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Yarmouth Schools (Yarmouth) Cape Elizabeth Middle School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) |
Top 3 High Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Maine School of Science and Mathematics (Limestone) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth High School (Falmouth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Waynflete School (Portland) John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) | Waynflete School (Portland) North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) |
Top 3 School Districts | Honolulu School District Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) Central Oahu School District | Falmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools Yarmouth Schools |
Top Hawaii to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.