Maine to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 2,357 mile interstate move from Maine to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lobster vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs pueblo-style, territorial), 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 Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in New Mexico is 25.01% more affordable than in Maine
- Moving from Maine to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Maine to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Maine to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to New Mexico
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- High cost of heating
- Far from attractions
- Milder winters
- Diverse job market
- Lower heating cost
- Close to Santa Fe
- No ocean
- Different seafood
- Less seasonal variation
- Smaller rural towns
- Beautiful coastlines
- Lobster cuisines
- Four distinct seasons
- Charming small towns
Pros of moving from Maine to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to New Mexico with a diverse job market
- Swap the high cost of heating in Maine for a lower heating cost in New Mexico
- Get ready for proximity to Santa Fe in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Maine to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful coastlines in Maine to live with no ocean in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of lobster cuisines and have to settle for the con of different seafood
- Time to bid farewell to four distinct seasons and get used to less seasonal variation in New Mexico
- Swap charming small towns for smaller rural towns
Maine vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster Roll | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Blueberry Crisp | Green Chile Stew (Vegan Version) |
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 New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Lobster of Maine for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blueberry Crisp they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Green Chile Stew (Vegan Version) of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maine eateries like Eventide Oyster Co., DiMillo's On The Water, and Duckfat. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, Frontier Restaurant, and El Modelo Mexican Foods.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and New Mexico
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Pueblo-style, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to nature, large yards | Solar panels, energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo-style and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to nature and large yards, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like solar panels and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- New Mexico housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Maine, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in New Mexico is 25.01% more affordable than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and New Mexico
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (urban vs. rural) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70-80Β°F / 50-60Β°F | 85-95Β°F / 55-65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 25-35Β°F / 10-20Β°F | 45-55Β°F / 20-30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 43 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Maine to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 40% more sunshine days than Maine.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and nor'easters in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 15 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 29 fewer inches of rain compared to Maine.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maine and New Mexico
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,543 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.5 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5.8% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.30% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5% | 7.8% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Retail, Tourism | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Film |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Higher |
Homelessness | Manageable | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 14% less than in Maine
- The COLI in New Mexico is 17% lower than what you are used to living in Maine
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 5.8% in ME
- The affluence in New Mexico is varied compared to moderate affluence in Maine
- The poverty level is higher in New Mexico compared to low poverty in Maine
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Maine and concerning in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive on social issues | Mixed economic policies |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher Catholic presence |
- Maine tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as having a higher Catholic presence
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to New Mexico
Comparison | Maine | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Colby College Bates College | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cape Elizabeth Elementary Yarmouth Elementary Falmouth Elementary | Sydney Gutierrez Middle Charter Holloman Middle Wood Gormley Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Falmouth Middle School Yarmouth Middle School Cape Elizabeth Middle School | Albuquerque Academy Sidney Gutierrez Middle School Jefferson Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | Falmouth High School Cape Elizabeth High School Yarmouth High School | La Cueva High School Albuquerque Academy Cottonwood Classical Prep |
Top 3 private high schools | Waynflete School John Bapst Memorial High School Lincoln Academy | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School Santa Fe Preparatory School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waynflete School North Yarmouth Academy Berwick Academy | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School Bosque School |
Top 3 School Districts | Falmouth Public Schools Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Maine to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 2,357 miles from Maine to New Mexico 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,539 | 300 ft3 | $8.46 |
1 Bedroom | $3,786 | 450 ft3 | $8.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,272 | 750 ft3 | $8.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,144 | 1100 ft3 | $8.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,220 | 1600 ft3 | $8.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,782 | 1800 ft3 | $8.21 |
Top Maine to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maine to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.