Maryland to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,283 mile interstate move from Maryland to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Crab Cakes vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (colonial vs craftsman), 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 Hotdish & Wild Rice and Chicken Soup
- Minnesota housing costs are 20% less expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in Minnesota is 10.68% more affordable than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to Minnesota movers is AT Movers
Maryland to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to Minnesota
- High cost of living
- Congested traffic
- Humid summers
- Limited nature escapes
- Hurricanes risk
- Affordable housing
- Less traffic
- Refreshing summers
- Abundant outdoor activities
- No hurricane threat
- Far from major cities
- Harsh winters
- No ocean access
- Homogeneous culture
- Fewer restaurant options
- Near Washington D.C.
- Rich history
- Beautiful bay views
- Diverse culture
- Vibrant food scene
Pros of moving from Maryland to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from congested traffic and moving to Minnesota with less traffic
- Swap the humid summers of Maryland for refreshing summers in Minnesota
- Get ready for abundant outdoor activities in Minnesota
Cons of moving from Maryland to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from near Washington D.C. in Maryland to live far from major cities in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to beautiful bay views and get used to no ocean access in Minnesota
- Swap diverse culture for homogeneous culture
Maryland vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab Cakes | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Pit Beef | Wild Rice and Chicken Soup |
Most popular street food item | Steamed Crabs | Juicy Lucy |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Crab Soup | Vegan Wild Rice Soup |
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Crab Cakes of Maryland for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful Pit Beef and sumptuous Steamed Crabs, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Wild Rice, Chicken Soup, and Juicy Lucy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Crab Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maryland eateries like Bertha's Mussels, Phillips Seafood, and Charm City Cakes. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Spoon and Stable, Matt's Bar, and Birchwood Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and Minnesota
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Deck | Lake View, Spacious Yard |
- The Colonial architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and decks, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like lake views and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Minnesota is less walkable than Maryland.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Minnesota is more bike-friendly than Maryland.
- Minnesota has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- Minnesota housing costs are 20% less expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased 33%, compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in Minnesota is 10.68% more affordable than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and Minnesota
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 83Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42Β°F / 29Β°F | 23Β°F / 7Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.7 | 30.3 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.6 | 54.0 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maryland to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Maryland.
- Minnesota 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 blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 2 degrees colder than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows are 22 degrees colder than they are in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 10.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and Minnesota
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 9.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.10% | 1.12% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7.125% |
Top 3 Industries | Information Technology, Biotechnology, Government | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Prosperous | Comfortable |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Visible | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 13% less than those in Maryland
- The COLI in Minnesota will be 21% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- The state income tax in MN is 9.85% compared to 5.75% in MD
- The affluence in Minnesota is comfortable compared to prosperous in Maryland
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Maryland and moderate in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. Minnesota
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State, currently leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal urban areas, conservative rural areas | Liberal urban areas, conservative rural |
Religion | Christian majority, significant Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious populations | Christian majority, notably Lutheran, with growing Muslim and non-religious populations |
- Maryland tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, currently leaning Democratic
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority, notably Lutheran, with growing Muslim and non-religious populations
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with significant Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious populations
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to Minnesota
Comparison | Maryland | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Towson University University of Maryland Baltimore County | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Fulton Elementary School Fulton; Carderock Springs Elementary Bethesda; Bannockburn Elementary Bethesda | Greenwood Elementary Plymouth; Deephaven Elementary Deephaven; Scenic Heights Elementary Minnetonka |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Eastern Middle School Silver Spring; Takoma Park Middle School Takoma Park; Burleigh Manor Middle School Ellicott City | Minnetonka Middle School East Minnetonka; Wayzata Central Middle School Plymouth; Eden Prairie Central Middle School Eden Prairie |
Top 3 High Schools | Poolesville High School Poolesville; Walt Whitman High School Bethesda; Winston Churchill High School Potomac | Edina High School Edina; Minnetonka High School Minnetonka; Wayzata High School Plymouth |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School Baltimore; Holton-Arms School Bethesda; McDonogh School Owings Mills | Breck School Golden Valley; The Blake School Minneapolis; St. Paul Academy St. Paul |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Timothy's School Stevenson; Glenelg Country School Ellicott City; Friends School of Baltimore Baltimore | Breck School Golden Valley; The Blake School Minneapolis; Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis |
Top 3 School Districts | Howard County Public Schools; Montgomery County Public Schools; Frederick County Public Schools | Minnetonka Public Schools; Wayzata Public Schools; Edina Public Schools |
How Much Do Maryland to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,283 miles from Maryland to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,930 | 300 ft3 | $6.43 |
1 Bedroom | $2,872 | 450 ft3 | $6.38 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,750 | 750 ft3 | $6.33 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,911 | 1100 ft3 | $6.28 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,973 | 1600 ft3 | $6.23 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,129 | 1800 ft3 | $6.18 |
Top Maryland to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.