Maryland to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,747 mile interstate move from Maryland to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs low humidity), food & health (like Crab Cake vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs mountain, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Crab Cake and Pit Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burger
- Colorado housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in Colorado is 8.63% more expensive than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to Colorado movers is AT Movers
Maryland to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to Colorado
- High humidity
- Dense traffic
- Higher crime rate
- Limited skiing
- Low humidity
- Breathtaking mountains
- Active outdoor lifestyle
- World-class skiing
- Higher elevation
- Less famous museums
- Altitude adjustment
- Expensive housing
- Proximity to D.C.
- Historical sites
- Chesapeake seafood
- Thriving arts scene
Pros of moving from Maryland to Colorado
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to low humidity
- Look forward to moving away from dense traffic and moving to Colorado with breathtaking mountains
- Swap the higher crime rate of Maryland for an active outdoor lifestyle in Colorado
- Get ready for world-class skiing in Colorado
Cons of moving from Maryland to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from proximity to D.C. in Maryland to live with a higher elevation in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of historical sites and have to settle with the con of less famous museums
- Time to bid farewell to Chesapeake seafood and get used to altitude adjustment in Colorado
- Swap a thriving arts scene for expensive housing
Maryland vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab Cake | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Pit Beef | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Fish Tacos | Green Chile Cheese Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Maryland to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Crab Cake of Maryland for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful Pit Beef and sumptuous Fish Tacos, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Green Chile Cheese Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maryland eateries like Phillips Seafood, Woodberry Kitchen, and Charm City Cakes. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beet Box, and Flagstaff House Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and Colorado
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Mountain, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, waterfront views | Mountain views, sustainable materials |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and waterfront views, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and sustainable materials.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Colorado is less walkable than Maryland.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Maryland.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- Colorado housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in Colorado is 8.63% more expensive than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and Colorado
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Wildfires, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F/66Β°F | 86Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42Β°F/29Β°F | 45Β°F/18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44.5 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.6 | 60.2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Maryland to Colorado. Colorado gets 41% more sunshine days than Maryland.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maryland.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Maryland, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and blizzards in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 1 degree colder than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 28.9 fewer inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and Colorado
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 4.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.06% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 2.9% - 11.2% |
Top 3 Industries | Biotech, IT, Defense | Aerospace, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 6% less than in Maryland
- The COLI in Colorado will be 21% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- The state income tax in CO is 4.4% compared to 2% - 5.75% in MD
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to high in Maryland
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to moderate in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Maryland and increasing in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. Colorado
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Democratic | Mixed; historically a purple state |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas, conservative in rural | Diverse; varies widely across regions |
Religion | Primarily Christian, notably Catholic | Mixed, with strong non-religious segment |
- Maryland tends to lean traditionally Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and historically a purple state
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as mixed, with a strong non-religious segment
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, notably Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to Colorado
Comparison | Maryland | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Towson University Johns Hopkins University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Fulton Elementary (Fulton) Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) | Slavens K-8 School (Denver) Cory Elementary School (Denver) Parker Core Knowledge Charter School (Parker) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) Cabin John Middle School (Potomac) Eastern Middle School (Silver Spring) | Challenge School (Denver) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) Mountain Ridge Middle School (Highlands Ranch) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) | Kent Denver School (Englewood) The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School (Bethesda) Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda) Park School of Baltimore (Baltimore) | Colorado Academy (Denver) Denver Country Day School (Denver) Vail Mountain School (Vail) |
Top 3 School Districts | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Frederick County Public Schools | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District |
How Much Do Maryland to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,747 miles from Maryland to Colorado will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,193 | 300 ft3 | $7.31 |
1 Bedroom | $3,267 | 450 ft3 | $7.26 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,407 | 750 ft3 | $7.21 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,876 | 1100 ft3 | $7.16 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,375 | 1600 ft3 | $7.11 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,707 | 1800 ft3 | $7.06 |
Top Maryland to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.