Iowa to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,422 mile interstate move from Iowa to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like unpredictable weather vs moderate climate), food & health (like Corn vs Lobster), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn and Pork Tenderloin, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster & Lobster Roll
- Maine housing costs are 83% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Maine is 68.12% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Maine will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Maine movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Maine
- Unpredictable weather
- Limited coastline
- Flat landscapes
- Fewer seafood options
- Moderate climate
- Scenic coastlines
- Picturesque hills
- Abundant seafood
- Higher cost of living
- Lesser farming opportunities
- Limited farmland
- Adjusting to new communities
- Low cost of living
- Rich agricultural heritage
- Ample farmland
- Familiar communities
Pros of moving from Iowa to Maine
- Say goodbye to unpredictable weather and hello to a moderate climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited coastline and moving to Maine with scenic coastlines
- Swap the flat landscapes of Iowa for picturesque hills in Maine
- Get ready for abundant seafood in Maine
Cons of moving from Iowa to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Iowa to live with a higher cost of living in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich agricultural heritage and have to settle with the con of lesser farming opportunities
- Time to bid farewell to ample farmland and get used to limited farmland in Maine
- Swap familiar communities for adjusting to new communities
Iowa vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn | Lobster |
Most popular meat dish | Pork Tenderloin | Lobster Roll |
Most popular street food item | Taco Pizza | Whoopie Pie |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetarian Chili | Blueberry Smoothie |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Iowa to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Corn of Iowa for the equally delicious Lobster of Maine. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Pork Tenderloin and sumptuous Taco Pizza, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster Roll and Whoopie Pie to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blueberry Smoothie of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, Fong's Pizza, and The Machine Shed Restaurant. 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 The Lost Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Maine
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
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 | Spacious yards, family-friendly | Proximity to coast, scenic views |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly features, Maine real estate listings often highlight aspects like proximity to the coast and scenic views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Maine is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike, as Maine is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Maine has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Maine housing costs are 83% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Maine is 68.12% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Maine
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
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, Severe Storms | Blizzards, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 70/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 31/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 75 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Iowa to Maine. Maine gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Iowa.
- Maine has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and nor'easters in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 15 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maine. Maine receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Maine
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 5.8% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 5.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Tourism, Fishing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 0% less than in Iowa
- The COLI in Maine will be 21% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in ME is 5.8% compared to 4.25% in IA
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is noticeable in Maine compared to moderate in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and low in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Maine
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with a mix of both parties | Largely leans Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varies widely across the state | Progressive policies more common |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity predominant, but with a higher rate of unaffiliated individuals |
- Iowa tends to lean swing state with a mix of both parties in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as largely leaning Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Maine's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, but with a higher rate of unaffiliated individuals
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Maine
Comparison | Iowa | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Maine Bowdoin College Colby College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Grant Wood Elementary (Bettendorf) Roosevelt Elementary (Mason City) | Yarmouth Elementary (Yarmouth) Falmouth Elementary (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Yarmouth Middle School (Yarmouth) Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) Brunswick Jr. High School (Brunswick) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) | Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth) Falmouth High School (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Exeter) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville) | Waynflete (Portland) George Stevens Academy (Blue Hill) John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) | North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth) Waynflete School (Portland) The Bay School (Blue Hill) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Pleasant Valley Community School District | Falmouth School Department Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth School Department |
How Much Do Iowa to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 1,422 miles from Iowa to Maine will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,009 | 300 ft3 | $6.70 |
1 Bedroom | $2,990 | 450 ft3 | $6.65 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,947 | 750 ft3 | $6.60 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,200 | 1100 ft3 | $6.55 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,393 | 1600 ft3 | $6.50 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,602 | 1800 ft3 | $6.45 |
Top Iowa to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.