Maryland to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 733 mile interstate move from Maryland to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Crab Cakes vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs victorian, 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 Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Pulled Pork
- Tennessee housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in Tennessee is 9.89% more affordable than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to Tennessee movers is AT Movers
Maryland to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to Tennessee
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Harsh winters
- Expensive taxes
- More affordable housing
- Lighter traffic
- Milder winters
- No state income tax
- Fewer job opportunities
- Lack of public transit
- Less historical sites
- Landlocked state
- Proximity to D.C.
- Ample public transport
- Rich history
- Coastal access
Pros of moving from Maryland to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Tennessee with lighter traffic
- Swap the harsh winters of Maryland for milder winters in Tennessee
- Get ready for no state income tax in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Maryland to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the proximity to D.C. in Maryland to live with fewer job opportunities in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of ample public transport and have to settle for the con of a lack of public transit
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in Tennessee
- Swap coastal access for a landlocked state
Maryland vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab Cakes | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich | Hot Chicken |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | BBQ Jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Crab Cakes of Maryland for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Soft Shell Crab Sandwich, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Hot Chicken 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 BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maryland eateries like Phillips Seafood, Woodberry Kitchen, and Charleston. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Peg Leg Porker, Puckett's, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee, compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and Tennessee
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Large yards, outdoor living spaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Tennessee is less walkable than Maryland.
- Tennessee is similarly bike-friendly to Maryland.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- Tennessee housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in Tennessee is 9.89% more affordable than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and Tennessee
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/66Β°F | 89Β°F/68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42Β°F/25Β°F | 49Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 53" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.6" | 5.8" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maryland to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Maryland.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maryland.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Maryland, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 4 degrees warmer than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows in Tennessee are 5 degrees warmer than those in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and Tennessee
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 4.75 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.10 | 0.68 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00 | 9.55 |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Biotechnology, IT | Automotive, Agriculture, Health Care |
Affluence | Wealthy | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 31% less than in Maryland
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 29% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to wealthy in Maryland
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Maryland and increasing in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic leaning | Republican leaning |
Local Politics | Progressive policies in urban areas | Conservative policies prevalent |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religious presence | Highly Christian, with a strong evangelical presence |
- Maryland tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as highly Christian with a strong evangelical presence
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant with a diverse religious presence
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to Tennessee
Comparison | Maryland | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Towson University Johns Hopkins University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Folger McKinsey Elementary (Severna Park) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) New Hope Elementary (White House) Clovercroft Elementary (Franklin) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) Herbert Hoover Middle School (Potomac) Cabin John Middle School (Potomac) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Page Middle School (Franklin) |
Top 3 High Schools | Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) Walter Johnson High School (Bethesda) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) Ravenwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School (Bethesda) Sandy Spring Friends School (Sandy Spring) The Key School (Annapolis) | University School of Nashville (Nashville) Harding Academy (Nashville) Battle Ground Academy (Franklin) |
Top 3 School Districts | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Franklin Special School District Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do Maryland to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 733 miles from Maryland to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,618 | 300 ft3 | $5.39 |
1 Bedroom | $2,405 | 450 ft3 | $5.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,970 | 750 ft3 | $5.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,768 | 1100 ft3 | $5.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,310 | 1600 ft3 | $5.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,258 | 1800 ft3 | $5.14 |
Top Maryland to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.