Maine to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,147 mile interstate move from Maine to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Lobster vs Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (cape cod, colonial vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster and Lobster Roll, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Chicken & Hot Brown
- Kentucky housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in Kentucky is 27.93% more affordable than in Maine
- Moving from Maine to Kentucky will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Maine to Kentucky movers is SC Moving Services
Maine to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to Kentucky
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Limited job opportunities
- Remote areas
- Sparse entertainment
- Mild winters
- Lower cost of living
- Growing job market
- Urban conveniences
- Vibrant nightlife
- Fewer natural parks
- Less cultural diversity
- Less historical character
- Landlocked
- Less seafood variety
- Lush landscapes
- Cultural attractions
- New England charm
- Coastal activities
- Fresh seafood
Pros of moving from Maine to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Kentucky with a lower cost of living
- Swap the limited job opportunities of Maine for a growing job market in Kentucky
- Get ready for urban conveniences in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Maine to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush landscapes in Maine to live with fewer natural parks in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural attractions and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to New England charm and get used to less historical character in Kentucky
- Swap coastal activities for landlocked ones
Maine vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster | Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster Roll | Hot Brown |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Burgoo |
Most popular vegan food | Blueberry Cobbler | BBQ Tofu |
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 Maine to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Lobster of Maine for the equally delicious Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Hot Brown and Burgoo to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blueberry Cobbler they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Tofu of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maine eateries like Five Fifty-Five, Fore Street, and Eventide Oyster Co. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Mammoth Cave Hotel Dining, and Holly Hill Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and Kentucky
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Colonial | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Nearby water, Private backyards | Large garages, Spacious lots |
- The Cape Cod and Colonial architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference nearby water and private backyards, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like large garages and spacious lots.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kentucky is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kentucky is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- Kentucky has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- Kentucky housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Maine, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased 47% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in Kentucky is 27.93% more affordable than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and Kentucky
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Ice Storms | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 50Β°F | 87Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 13Β°F | 44Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 61 | 13 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maine to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Maine.
- Kentucky has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and ice storms in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 17 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Maine.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maine and Kentucky
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,543 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.5 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 5-7.15% | 2-5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.30% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Tourism, Retail | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 15% less than in Maine
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 25% lower than what you are used to living in Maine
- The state income tax in KY is 2-5% compared to 5-7.15% in ME
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to moderate in Maine
- The poverty level is moderate in Kentucky compared to low in Maine
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maine and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Conservative in most areas |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Maine tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to Kentucky
Comparison | Maine | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cape Elizabeth School Falmouth Elementary Yarmouth Schools | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Beaumont Elementary Rosa Parks Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Yarmouth Middle School Cape Elizabeth Middle School Falmouth Middle School | Barret Traditional Middle School Meyzeek Middle School Highlands Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Yarmouth High School Falmouth High School Cape Elizabeth High School | DuPont Manual High School Highlands High School Bowling Green High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Waynflete School (Portland) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) Hebron Academy (Hebron) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waynflete School (Portland) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) Hebron Academy (Hebron) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Falmouth School District Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools | Oldham County Schools Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District |
How Much Do Maine to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 1,147 miles from Maine to Kentucky will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,853 | 300 ft3 | $6.18 |
1 Bedroom | $2,757 | 450 ft3 | $6.13 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,557 | 750 ft3 | $6.08 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,628 | 1100 ft3 | $6.03 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,561 | 1600 ft3 | $5.98 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,666 | 1800 ft3 | $5.93 |
Top Maine to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maine to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.