Kentucky to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,143 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler summers), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs cape cod, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Bourbon BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster
- Maine housing costs are 95% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Maine is 38.76% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Maine will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Maine movers is SC Moving Services
Kentucky to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Maine
- Hot summers
- Limited seafood options
- Rare snowfall
- Fewer coastal views
- Cooler summers
- Fresh seafood
- Winter activities
- Scenic coastlines
- Harsh winters
- Limited horse racing
- Different music culture
- Less Southern food
- Mild winters
- Horse racing culture
- Bluegrass music scene
- Southern cuisine
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Maine
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited seafood options and moving to Maine with fresh seafood
- Swap the rare snowfall of Kentucky for winter activities in Maine
- Get ready for scenic coastlines in Maine
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Kentucky to live with harsh winters in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of horse racing culture and have to settle for the con of limited horse racing
- Time to bid farewell to the bluegrass music scene and get used to a different music culture in Maine
- Swap southern cuisine for less Southern food
Kentucky vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Bourbon BBQ | Lobster |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown Sandwich | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Seaweed Salads |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Maine, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Bourbon BBQ and sumptuous Hot Brown Sandwich, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Italian Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seaweed Salads of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like KFC, Mammy's Kitchen, and Proof on Main. 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., Duckfat, and The Lost Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Maine
Comparison | Kentucky | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Cape Cod, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garages | Waterfront views, large decks |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Colonial architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and large decks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Maine is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Maine is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Maine has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Maine housing costs are 95% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Maine is 38.76% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Maine
Comparison | Kentucky | 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, floods | Winter storms, floods |
Air Quality | Good (Varies by location) | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 79Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 24Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 12 | 75 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Maine. Maine gets 3% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Maine has similar humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential winter storms and floods in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 8 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Maine
Comparison | Kentucky | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.86% | 1.09% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Tourism, Healthcare, Fishing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Notable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 17% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Maine is 33% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in ME is 7.15% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to moderate in Kentucky
- The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to notable in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Kentucky and higher in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Maine
Comparison | Kentucky | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed, with rural areas trending more conservative | Tends to be liberal, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Evangelical Christian majority | Less religiously affiliated, diverse religious communities |
- Kentucky tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Maine's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and having diverse religious communities
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as an evangelical Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Maine
Comparison | Kentucky | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Glendover Elementary (Lexington) Stopher Elementary (Louisville) | Cape Elizabeth Elementary (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Elementary (Falmouth) Yarmouth Elementary (Yarmouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Beaumont Middle (Lexington) Barret Traditional Middle (Louisville) Winburn Middle (Lexington) | Yarmouth Middle School (Yarmouth) Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth Middle School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) | Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth) Falmouth High School (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High (Lexington) Trinity High (Louisville) | Waynflete School (Portland) John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor) Lincoln Academy (Newcastle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) | Waynflete School (Portland) Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield) Hebron Academy (Hebron) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Boone County Schools | Falmouth Schools Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 1,143 miles from Kentucky to Maine will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,850 | 300 ft3 | $6.17 |
1 Bedroom | $2,753 | 450 ft3 | $6.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,551 | 750 ft3 | $6.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,620 | 1100 ft3 | $6.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,549 | 1600 ft3 | $5.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,653 | 1800 ft3 | $5.92 |
Top Kentucky to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.