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Idaho to Maine Moving Guide

Updated June 10, 2025

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Planning a 2,806 mile interstate move from Idaho to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Idaho vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Idaho Potatoes 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 Idaho Potatoes and Idaho Trout, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster & Lobster Roll
  • Maine housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Idaho
  • Rent in Maine is 12.45% more expensive than in Idaho
  • Moving from Idaho to Maine will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
  • Our top recommended Idaho to Maine movers is 208 Moving Company

Idaho to Maine Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Idaho to Maine

ConsIdaho iconIdaho
  • Harsh winters
  • Fewer coastal areas
  • Limited seafood options
  • Less cultural diversity
  • Fewer famous lighthouses
ProsMaine iconMaine
  • Milder winters
  • Beautiful coastline
  • Abundant seafood
  • Rich cultural heritage
  • Iconic lighthouses

Maine iconMaine
  • Higher cost of living
  • Frequent fog
  • More crowded tourist spots
  • Fewer mountain ranges
  • Different local customs
Idaho iconIdaho
  • Lower cost of living
  • More sunny days
  • Smaller population
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Friendly communities

Pros of moving from Idaho to Maine

  • Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
  • Look forward to moving away from fewer coastal areas and moving to Maine with beautiful coastline
  • Swap the limited seafood options of Idaho for abundant seafood in Maine
  • Get ready for rich cultural heritage in Maine

Cons of moving from Idaho to Maine

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Idaho to live with a higher cost of living in Maine
  • You'll lose out on the pro of more sunny days and have to settle for the con of frequent fog
  • Time to bid farewell to a smaller population and get used to more crowded tourist spots in Maine
  • Swap outdoor recreation for fewer mountain ranges

Idaho vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Most iconic local food itemIdaho PotatoesLobster
Most popular meat dishIdaho TroutLobster Roll
Most popular street food itemLoaded Baked PotatoesWhoopie Pie
Most popular vegan foodWild Mushroom RisottoVegan Lobster Roll
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Westside Drive-In
  • The Basque Market
  • Bar Gernika
  • Eventide Oyster Co.
  • Fore Street
  • Duckfat
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Idaho to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Idaho Potatoes of Idaho for the equally delicious Lobster of Maine. And while the locals in Idaho rave about their flavorful Idaho Trout and sumptuous Loaded Baked Potatoes, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster Roll and Whoopie Pie to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Mushroom Risotto they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Lobster Roll of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Idaho eateries like Westside Drive-In, The Basque Market, and Bar Gernika. 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 a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Idaho. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Idaho. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Idaho and Maine

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Typical Architecture StyleRanch, CraftsmanColonial, Cape Cod
Walkability👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban Lifestyle🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingOpen spaces, mountain viewsOcean proximity, historic homes
  • The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Idaho is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
  • Compared to Idaho's real estate listings that commonly reference open spaces and mountain views, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like ocean proximity and historic homes.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maine is more walkable than Idaho.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maine is more bike-friendly than Idaho.
  • Maine has more of an urban feel than Idaho.
  • Maine housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Idaho with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Idaho’s $451,298.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased 70% compared to a 69% increase in Idaho.
  • Rent in Maine is 12.45% more expensive than in Idaho.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Idaho and Maine

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Days of Sunshine per Year☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
Avg. Annual Humidity💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Avg. UV Index🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️
Natural DisastersWildfires, EarthquakesBlizzards, Nor'easters
Air QualityGoodVaries, Generally Good
Average Summer High/Low (°F)85°F / 40-55°F70-85°F / 50-60°F
Average Winter High/Low (°F)30-40°F / 10-20°F25-40°F / 10-20°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)12-24"37-46"
Annual Snowfall (Inches)20-100"50-110"
  • Maine gets an equal number of sunshine days with Idaho.
  • Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Idaho.
  • Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho, 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 Idaho.
  • The average winter lows in Maine are 0 degrees colder than they are in Idaho.
  • Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maine. Maine receives 25 more inches of rain compared to Idaho.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Idaho and Maine

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Avg. Household Income$72,785$69,543
Cost of Living Index91.5116.5
State Income Tax6.93%7.15%
Avg. Property Tax0.75%1.30%
Avg. Sales Tax6.00%5.50%
Top 3 IndustriesAgriculture, Technology, ManufacturingFishing, Tourism, Healthcare
AffluenceModerateModerate
PovertyLowModerate
HomelessnessLowModerate
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 4% less than in Idaho
  • The COLI in Maine is 27% higher than what you are used to living in Idaho
  • The state income tax in ME is 7.15% compared to 6.93% in ID
  • The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to moderate in Idaho
  • The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to low in Idaho
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in Idaho and moderate in Maine

Political and Religious Climate in Idaho vs. Maine

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Political Make-upConservativeModerate to Liberal
Local PoliticsRepublican DominanceDemocratic Lean
ReligionLargely Christian, with a significant Latter-day Saints communityPredominantly Christian, diverse denominations with less emphasis on any single group
  • Idaho tends to lean conservative in its political climate
  • Maine, on the other hand, is often described as moderate to liberal
  • Maine's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with diverse denominations and less emphasis on any single group
  • Idaho's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Christian, with a significant Latter-day Saints community

Education Guide When Moving from Idaho to Maine

ComparisonIdahoMaine
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)Boise State University
University of Idaho
Idaho State University
University of Maine
Bowdoin College
Bates College
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsLongfellow Elementary - Boise
White Pine Elementary - Boise
Adams Elementary - Boise
Cape Elizabeth Elementary - Cape Elizabeth
Yarmouth Elementary - Yarmouth
Cumberland Center Elementary - Cumberland Center
Top 3 Middle SchoolsNorth Star Charter - Eagle
Lakeside Elementary/Middle - Plummer
Galileo STEM Academy - Eagle
Falmouth Middle School - Falmouth
Cape Elizabeth Middle School - Cape Elizabeth
Yarmouth Middle School - Yarmouth
Top 3 High School SchoolsBoise High School - Boise
Timberline High School - Boise
Renaissance High School - Meridian
Greely High School - Cumberland
Yarmouth High School - Yarmouth
Cape Elizabeth High School - Cape Elizabeth
Top 3 private high schoolsBishop Kelly High School - Boise
The Ambrose School - Meridian
Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy - Coeur d'Alene
Waynflete School - Portland
Hebron Academy - Hebron
Fryeburg Academy - Fryeburg
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsThe Ambrose School - Meridian
Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy - Coeur d'Alene
Classical Christian Academy - Post Falls
Waynflete School - Portland
North Yarmouth Academy - Yarmouth
Maine Coast Waldorf School- Freeport
Top 3 School DistrictsBoise School District
West Ada School District
Coeur d'Alene School District
Falmouth School District
Yarmouth School District
Cape Elizabeth School District

How Much Do Idaho to Maine Movers Cost?

Moving 2,806 miles from Idaho to Maine will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$2,793300 ft3$9.31
1 Bedroom$4,167450 ft3$9.26
2 Bedrooms$6,908750 ft3$9.21
3 Bedrooms$10,0771100 ft3$9.16
4 Bedrooms$14,5781600 ft3$9.11
5+ Bedrooms$16,3101800 ft3$9.06

Top Idaho to Maine Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best Idaho to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
208 Moving Company featured image

208 Moving Company

Best moving company overall for Idaho to Maine

9.49/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Valley Custom Moving featured image

Valley Custom Moving

9.41/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Boise Local Boys Moving Company featured image

Boise Local Boys Moving Company

9.22/10
ExceptionalView details
Top Idaho to Maine Routes

Boise to Maine