Maryland to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 650 mile interstate move from Maryland to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like heavy traffic vs fewer cars), food & health (like Crab Cakes vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs cape cod, colonial, farmhouse), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Crab Cakes and Pit Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster Stew
- Maine housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in Maine is 2.63% more affordable than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to Maine will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to Maine movers is AT Movers
Maryland to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to Maine
- Heavy traffic
- Hot, humid summers
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Limited outdoor activities
- Fewer cars
- Mild summers
- Affordable housing
- Open spaces
- Year-round outdoor fun
- Fewer historical sites
- Quiet evenings
- Fewer job options
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer major teams
- Rich history
- Vibrant nightlife
- Career opportunities
- Diverse culture
- Sporting events
Pros of moving from Maryland to Maine
- Say goodbye to heavy traffic and hello to fewer cars
- Look forward to moving away from hot, humid summers and moving to Maine with mild summers
- Swap the high cost of living in Maryland for affordable housing in Maine
- Get ready for open spaces in Maine
Cons of moving from Maryland to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Maryland to live with fewer historical sites in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant nightlife and have to settle with the con of quiet evenings
- Time to bid farewell to career opportunities and get used to fewer job options in Maine
- Swap diverse culture for less cultural diversity
Maryland vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab Cakes | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Pit Beef | Lobster Stew |
Most popular street food item | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Maple Baked Beans |
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 Maine, you will be trading the iconic Crab Cakes of Maryland for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful Pit Beef and sumptuous Soft Shell Crab Sandwich, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster Stew and Italian Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Maple Baked Beans of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maryland eateries like Bertha's Mussels, Phillips Seafood, and Woodberry Kitchen. 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 Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine, compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and Maine
Comparison | Maryland | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Cape Cod, Colonial, Farmhouse |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Luxury Amenities | Scenic Views, Large Land |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod, Colonial, and Farmhouse architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and luxury amenities, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and large land.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Maine is less walkable than Maryland.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Maine is less bike-friendly than Maryland.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- Maine housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in Maine is 2.63% more affordable than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and Maine
Comparison | Maryland | 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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Snowstorms, Ice Storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 79Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F / 29Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44.5" | 46" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.6" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maryland to Maine. Maine gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Maryland.
- Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Maryland.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Maryland, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and ice storms in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 8 degrees colder than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maine. Maine receives 1.5 more inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and Maine
Comparison | Maryland | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 5.8% - 7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.06% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 5.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Aerospace, Biotech | Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Affluent | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 27% less than in Maryland
- The COLI in Maine is 7% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- The state income tax in ME is between 5.8% and 7.15% compared to between 2% and 5.75% in MD
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to affluent in Maryland
- The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to low in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maryland and low in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. Maine
Comparison | Maryland | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal urban areas, Conservative rural | Mixed, with liberal southern and coastal areas |
Religion | Christianity Predominant, religious diversity in urban areas | Primarily Christian, less religious diversity |
- Maryland tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning
- Maine's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with less religious diversity
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with religious diversity in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to Maine
Comparison | Maryland | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Towson University Johns Hopkins University | University of Maine Bates College Bowdoin College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cold Spring Elementary Potomac; Folger McKinsey Elementary Severna Park; Stone Mill Elementary North Potomac | Falmouth Elementary Falmouth; Yarmouth Elementary Yarmouth; Cumberland-North Yarmouth Cumberland |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda; Severna Park Middle School Severna Park; Herbert Hoover Middle School Potomac | Yarmouth Middle School Yarmouth; Falmouth Middle School Falmouth; Cape Elizabeth Middle School Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 High School Schools | Walt Whitman High School Bethesda; Winston Churchill High School Potomac; Poolesville High School Poolesville | Yarmouth High School Yarmouth; Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth; Falmouth High School Falmouth |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School Baltimore; Holton-Arms School Bethesda; McDonogh School Owings Mills | Waynflete School Portland; Hebron Academy Hebron; Berwick Academy South Berwick |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bryn Mawr School Baltimore; Landon School Bethesda; McDonogh School Owings Mills | North Yarmouth Academy Yarmouth; Berwick Academy South Berwick; Waynflete School Portland |
Top 3 School Districts | Howard County Public Schools; Montgomery County Public Schools; Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Falmouth School Department; Yarmouth Schools; Cape Elizabeth School Department |
How Much Do Maryland to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 650 miles from Maryland to Maine will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,335 | 300 ft3 | $4.45 |
1 Bedroom | $1,984 | 450 ft3 | $4.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,275 | 750 ft3 | $4.37 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,756 | 1100 ft3 | $4.32 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,850 | 1600 ft3 | $4.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,630 | 1800 ft3 | $4.24 |
Top Maryland to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.