Kentucky to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 544 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse job opportunities), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Crab Cakes), real estate & housing (colonial, 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 Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cakes & Steamed Crabs
- Maryland housing costs are 106% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Maryland is 42.50% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Maryland will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Maryland movers is AT Movers
Kentucky to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Maryland
- Limited job market
- Hot, humid summers
- Lack of coastal access
- Fewer cultural hubs
- Diverse job opportunities
- Milder summer climate
- Proximity to beaches
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher living expenses
- More transient population
- Urban congestion
- Heavier traffic levels
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Beautiful landscapes
- Less traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Maryland
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to diverse job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from hot, humid summers and moving to Maryland with milder summer climate
- Swap the lack of coastal access of Kentucky for proximity to beaches in Maryland
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Maryland
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Kentucky to live with higher living expenses in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle with the con of a more transient population
- Time to bid farewell to beautiful landscapes and get used to urban congestion in Maryland
- Swap less traffic congestion for heavier traffic levels
Kentucky vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Crab Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Steamed Crabs |
Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Kentucky Fried Cauliflower | Black-Eyed Pea Salad |
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 Kentucky to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Crab Cakes of Maryland. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, 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 Kentucky Fried Cauliflower they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black-Eyed Pea Salad of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Corbett's An American Place, Seviche A Latin Restaurant, and Jack Fry's. After the boxes are unpacked in Maryland, don't wait too long before making your way to Maryland's acclaimed eateries like Phillips Seafood, Cirottiβs, and Woodberry Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maryland compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Maryland
Comparison | Kentucky | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garages | Waterfront properties, proximity to amenities |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, Maryland real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront properties and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maryland is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maryland is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Maryland has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Maryland housing costs are 106% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased by 33% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Maryland is 42.50% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Maryland
Comparison | Kentucky | 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 | Tornados, Floods | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 23Β°F | 42Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 40" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22" | 20" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Maryland. Maryland gets 9% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Maryland has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Maryland.
- The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 2 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maryland. Maryland receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Maryland
Comparison | Kentucky | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.10% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Automotive | Biotechnology, IT, Aerospace |
Affluence | Modest | Prosperous |
Poverty | Prevalent | Less Prevalent |
Homelessness | Moderate | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 60% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in Maryland is 42% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in MD is 5.75% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Maryland is prosperous compared to modest in Kentucky
- The poverty level is less prevalent in Maryland compared to prevalent in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and manageable in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Maryland
Comparison | Kentucky | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | Christian Majority | Diverse, Christian Plurality |
- Kentucky tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as lean Liberal
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a Christian plurality
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Maryland
Comparison | Kentucky | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Brandies Elementary School (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Mann Elementary (Union) | Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) West Towson Elementary (Towson) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) Highlands Middle School (Fort Thomas) | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) Takoma Park Middle School (Takoma Park) Herbert Hoover Middle School (Potomac) |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Gatton Academy (Bowling Green) North Oldham High School (Goshen) | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) The Bryn Mawr School (Baltimore) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) The Vanguard Academy (Lexington) | Maryland International School (Elkridge) Landon School (Bethesda) Sandy Spring Friends School (Sandy Spring) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to Maryland Movers Cost?
Moving 544 miles from Kentucky to Maryland will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,511 | 300 ft3 | $5.04 |
1 Bedroom | $2,244 | 450 ft3 | $4.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,702 | 750 ft3 | $4.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,375 | 1100 ft3 | $4.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,738 | 1600 ft3 | $4.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,615 | 1800 ft3 | $4.79 |
Top Kentucky to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.