Maine to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
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Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 634 mile interstate move from Maine to Pennsylvania? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs Pennsylvania across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Philly Cheesesteak), real estate & housing (cape cod, colonial vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and Lobster, but get your taste buds ready for Philly Cheesesteak & Pork and Sauerkraut
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 18.31% more affordable than in Maine
- Moving from Maine to Pennsylvania will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended Maine to Pennsylvania movers is Pittsburgh Moving

Top Maine to Pennsylvania Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maine to Pennsylvania movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Maine to Pennsylvania

Keystone Moving & Junk Removal, LLC

Vacationland Moving
Maine to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to Pennsylvania
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- Few cultural events
- Higher transportation costs
- Milder climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Urban conveniences
- Rich cultural scene
- Efficient public transit
- No ocean access
- Higher crime rates
- Busy urban areas
- Impersonal lifestyle
- Industrial landscapes
- Beautiful coastline
- Low crime rate
- Peaceful environment
- Close-knit communities
- Pristine nature
Pros of moving from Maine to Pennsylvania
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Pennsylvania with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of Maine for urban conveniences in Pennsylvania
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Pennsylvania
Cons of moving from Maine to Pennsylvania
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful coastline in Maine to live with no ocean access in Pennsylvania
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low crime rate and have to settle for the con of higher crime rates
- Time to bid farewell to a peaceful environment and get used to busy urban areas in Pennsylvania
- Swap close-knit communities for an impersonal lifestyle
Maine vs. Pennsylvania: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Philly Cheesesteak |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster | Pork and Sauerkraut |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Pretzel |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed Salad | Mushroom Cheesesteak |
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 Pennsylvania, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Maine for the equally delicious Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Lobster and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, Pennsylvania residents know they have tasty Pork and Sauerkraut and Pretzel to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seaweed Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Mushroom Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania, don't wait too long before making your way to Pennsylvania's acclaimed eateries like Pat's King of Steaks, Reading Terminal Market, and Zahav.
When comparing lifestyles, Pennsylvania shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Pennsylvania, compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Pennsylvania.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Colonial | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Acreage | Historic Features, Proximity to Amenities |
- The Cape Cod and Colonial architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Pennsylvania.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and acreage, Pennsylvania real estate listings often highlight features like historic characteristics and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Pennsylvania is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Pennsylvania is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- Pennsylvania has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Maine, with a median home price of $261,312 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Pennsylvania have increased by 43% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 18.31% more affordable than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Storms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F/50Β°F | 85Β°F/62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F/13Β°F | 40Β°F/20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42" | 41" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 38" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maine to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania gets 11% fewer sunshine days than Maine.
- Pennsylvania has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential storms and floods in Pennsylvania.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Pennsylvania is 15 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania receives 1 fewer inch of rain compared to Maine.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maine and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,543 | $71,798 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.5 | 99.7 |
State Income Tax | 5.8% | 3.07% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.29% | 1.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5% | 6.34% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Pennsylvania tend to earn about 3% more than in Maine
- The COLI in Pennsylvania will be 14% lower than what you are used to living in Maine
- The state income tax in PA is 3.07% compared to 5.8% in ME
- The affluence in Pennsylvania is moderate compared to moderate in Maine
- The poverty level is moderate in Pennsylvania compared to moderate in Maine
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maine and low in Pennsylvania
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. Pennsylvania
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally Democratic-leaning statewide with an independent streak; uses ranked-choice voting. Democrats hold the governorship and legislature; one independent U.S. senator (caucuses with Democrats) and one Republican. The 2nd Congressional District leans Republican. | Classic swing state. Democrats hold the governorship and both U.S. Senate seats; state House narrowly Democratic and state Senate Republican. Urban/suburban areas vote Democratic; rural regions vote Republican. |
Local Politics | Strong New England town-meeting tradition with many small municipalities and some unorganized territories. County governments have limited roles. Local issues often center on property taxes, schools, land use, and fisheries/forestry. | Complex local structure with cities, boroughs, and townships plus 67 counties. Many school districts and special authorities; home-rule options are common. Local issues often focus on property taxes, land use, infrastructure, and public safety. |
Religion | Lower religiosity than the U.S. average with a large share religiously unaffiliated. Christian plurality with smaller evangelical presence; Catholic and mainline Protestant communities statewide. | More religiously observant than Maine overall. Christian plurality with sizable Catholic and Protestant populations; notable Amish and Mennonite communities; growing but smaller unaffiliated share. |
- Maine tends to lean generally Democratic in its political climate
- Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is often described as a classic swing state
- Pennsylvania's religious environment can be described as more religiously observant than Maine overall
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having lower religiosity than the U.S. average with a large share religiously unaffiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to Pennsylvania
Comparison | Maine | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Orono | Penn State University University Park |
Bates College Lewiston | University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh | |
Bowdoin College Brunswick | Temple University Philadelphia | |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Falmouth Elementary School Falmouth | McKnight Elementary School Pittsburgh |
Yarmouth Elementary School Yarmouth | Central Bucks Elementary School Doylestown | |
Waynflete School Portland | Cynwyd Elementary School Bala Cynwyd | |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Falmouth Middle School Falmouth | Strath Haven Middle School Wallingford |
Waynflete Middle School Portland | Fort Couch Middle School Upper St. Clair | |
Yarmouth Middle School Yarmouth | Mount Nittany Middle School State College | |
Top 3 High Schools | Falmouth High School Falmouth | Central High School Philadelphia |
Yarmouth High School Yarmouth | Lower Merion High School Ardmore | |
Waynflete School Portland | Conestoga High School Berwyn | |
Top 3 Private High Schools | Waynflete Upper School Portland | Germantown Friends School Philadelphia |
Brunswick School Brunswick | The Episcopal Academy Newtown Square | |
Kents Hill School Kents Hill | Haverford School Haverford | |
Top 3 Private K-12 Schools | Waynflete School Portland | Germantown Friends School Philadelphia |
Brunswick School Brunswick | Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh | |
North Yarmouth Academy Yarmouth | Moravian Academy Bethlehem | |
Top 3 School Districts | Falmouth Schools Falmouth | Central Bucks School District Doylestown |
Yarmouth School Department Yarmouth | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Berwyn | |
Cape Elizabeth School Department Cape Elizabeth | North Allegheny School District Pittsburgh |
How Much Do Maine to Pennsylvania Movers Cost?
Moving 634 miles from Maine to Pennsylvania will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,328 | 300 ft3 | $4.43 |
1 Bedroom | $1,972 | 450 ft3 | $4.38 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,255 | 750 ft3 | $4.34 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,728 | 1100 ft3 | $4.30 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,809 | 1600 ft3 | $4.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,583 | 1800 ft3 | $4.21 |