Maryland to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 2,396 mile interstate move from Maryland to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Crab cakes vs Potatoes), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Crab cakes and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Potatoes & Elk steak
- Idaho housing costs are 9% more expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in Idaho is 13.41% more affordable than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to Idaho will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to Idaho movers is AT Movers
Maryland to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to Idaho
- High property taxes
- Dense traffic
- Urban sprawl
- Expensive housing
- Lower property taxes
- Less congestion
- Spectacular landscapes
- More affordable homes
- Less historic sites
- Landlocked state
- Limited restaurant options
- Fewer cultural events
- Rich history
- Coastal activities
- Varied cuisine
- Diverse entertainment
Pros of moving from Maryland to Idaho
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from dense traffic and moving to Idaho with less congestion
- Swap the urban sprawl of Maryland for spectacular landscapes in Idaho
- Get ready for more affordable homes in Idaho
Cons of moving from Maryland to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Maryland to live with fewer historic sites in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal activities and have to settle for the con of being in a landlocked state
- Time to bid farewell to varied cuisine and get used to limited restaurant options in Idaho
- Swap diverse entertainment for fewer cultural events
Maryland vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab cakes | Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Elk steak |
Most popular street food item | Steamed Crabs | Finger Steaks |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled Veggie Sandwich | Quinoa 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 Maryland to Idaho, you will be trading the iconic crab cakes of Maryland for the equally delicious potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful fried chicken and sumptuous steamed crabs, Idaho residents know they have tasty elk steak and finger steaks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the grilled veggie sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the quinoa salad of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maryland eateries like Phillips Seafood, Woodberry Kitchen, and Pappas Seafood. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like State & Lemp, Juniper, and The Chocolat Bar.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and Idaho
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, proximity to Washington D.C. | Mountain views, outdoor activities |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and proximity to Washington D.C., Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor activities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Idaho is less walkable than Maryland.
- Idaho is similarly bike-friendly to Maryland.
- Idaho has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- Idaho housing costs are 9% more expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased by 69% compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in Idaho is 13.41% more affordable than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and Idaho
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 43Β°F / 29Β°F | 34Β°F / 15Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 41" | 13" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20" | 60" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maryland to Idaho. Idaho gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Maryland.
- Idaho 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 earthquakes in Idaho.
- The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 2 degrees colder than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows in Idaho are 14 degrees colder than those in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and Idaho
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $72,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 91.5 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 1% - 6.925% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.06% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Healthcare, Education | Agriculture, Technology, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Wealthy | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Idaho tend to earn about 23% less than in Maryland
- The COLI in Idaho will be 27% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- The state income tax in ID is 1% - 6.925% compared to 2% - 5.75% in MD
- The affluence in Idaho is moderate compared to wealthy in Maryland
- The poverty level is low in Idaho compared to moderate in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maryland and very low in Idaho
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. Idaho
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Largely Republican |
Local Politics | Diverse representation | Conservative leadership |
Religion | Pluralistic, with a significant Catholic presence | Majority Protestant with a significant Mormon community |
- Maryland tends to lean largely Democratic in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as majority Protestant with a significant Mormon community
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as pluralistic with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to Idaho
Comparison | Maryland | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Fulton Elementary (Fulton) Bannockburn Elementary (Bethesda) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) | Longfellow Elementary (Boise) Adams Elementary (Boise) White Pine Elementary (Boise) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Eastern Middle (Silver Spring) Thomas W. Pyle Middle (Bethesda) Herbert Hoover Middle (Potomac) | North Junior High (Boise) Lakes Middle School (Coeur d'Alene) Fairmont Junior High (Boise) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Walt Whitman High (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High (Rockville) | Boise High School (Boise) Timberline High School (Boise) Coeur d'Alene High School (Coeur dβAlene) |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) Landon School (Bethesda) | Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) The Calverton School (Huntingtown) | Riverstone International School (Boise) The Sage School (Hailey) North Idaho Christian School (Hayden) |
Top 3 School Districts | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Frederick County Public Schools | Boise School District Blaine County School District Coeur d'Alene School District |
How Much Do Maryland to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 2,396 miles from Maryland to Idaho will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,561 | 300 ft3 | $8.54 |
1 Bedroom | $3,819 | 450 ft3 | $8.49 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,327 | 750 ft3 | $8.44 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,225 | 1100 ft3 | $8.39 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,338 | 1600 ft3 | $8.34 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,915 | 1800 ft3 | $8.29 |
Top Maryland to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.