Maine to Virginia Moving Guide
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Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 853 mile interstate move from Maine to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (cape cod, colonial vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and Clam Chowder, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Fried Chicken
- Virginia housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in Virginia is 0.76% more expensive than in Maine
- Moving from Maine to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Maine to Virginia movers is ARS Movers

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

ARS Movers
Best moving company overall for Maine to Virginia
A Change of Place Movers

Vacationland Moving
Maine to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to Virginia
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Higher taxes
- Limited job market
- Milder climate
- Cultural diversity
- Lower taxes
- Robust economy
- Busy urban centers
- Higher crime rates
- More transient population
- Faster pace of life
- Coastal beauty
- Low crime rate
- Community feel
- Relaxed lifestyle
Pros of moving from Maine to Virginia
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Virginia with cultural diversity
- Swap the higher taxes of Maine for lower taxes in Virginia
- Get ready for a robust economy in Virginia
Cons of moving from Maine to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal beauty in Maine to live with busy urban centers in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low crime rate and have to settle with the con of higher crime rates
- Time to bid farewell to a community feel and get used to a more transient population in Virginia
- Swap a relaxed lifestyle for a faster pace of life
Maine vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Clam Chowder | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed Salad | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Maine for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Clam Chowder and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, Virginia residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Peanuts 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 BBQ Jackfruit of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maine eateries like Fore Street, Eventide Oyster Co., and Duckfat. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, LeGrand Kitchen, and Mama Jβs Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and Virginia
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Colonial | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Quiet Neighborhood | Close to Amenities, Historical Charm |
- The Cape Cod and Colonial architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and quiet neighborhoods, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like being close to amenities and historical charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- Virginia housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in Maine, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in Virginia is 0.76% more expensive than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and Virginia
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
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, Ice | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 50Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 13Β°F | 48Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 14" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Maine to Virginia. Virginia gets 3% more sunshine days than Maine.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and ice in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Virginia.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 15 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to Maine.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maine and Virginia
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,543 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.5 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 7.15% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.29% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.30% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Healthcare, Tourism | Defense, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Modest | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 23% more than in Maine
- The COLI in Virginia will be 17% lower than what you are used to living in Maine
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 7.15% in ME
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate in Maine
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to modest in Maine
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Maine and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. Virginia
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic in recent federal races but remains competitive; strong independent streak; uses ranked-choice voting for federal elections; splits electoral votes by congressional district (northern/western district more conservative than coastal/southern district). | Shifted from reliably Republican to purple with a slight blue tilt in statewide races; suburbs (especially Northern Virginia) trend Democratic while many rural areas remain conservative; currently a mixed government with a Republican governor and Democratic-controlled legislature. |
Local Politics | Many small towns with town meeting or council-manager systems; local focus on property taxes, land use, fishing/forestry, outdoor recreation, and conservation; high civic participation in smaller communities. | Dillon Rule limits local authority to state-granted powers; independent cities and counties with boards/city councils and elected school boards; priorities often include transportation, schools, zoning, and growth management. |
Religion | Among the less religiously observant states; high share religiously unaffiliated; Christian majority with notable Catholic and mainline Protestant presence; smaller evangelical share and modest but growing religious diversity. | More religiously observant overall; sizable evangelical Protestant community alongside mainline Protestant and Catholic congregations; increasing religious diversity (including Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities) in suburban and urban areas. |
- Maine tends to lean Democratic in its political climate; it has recently leaned Democratic in federal races but remains competitive, with a strong independent streak that uses ranked-choice voting for federal elections and splits electoral votes by congressional district, as the northern and western districts are more conservative than the coastal and southern districts.
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as having shifted from reliably Republican to purple, with a slight blue tilt in statewide races; its suburbs, especially Northern Virginia, trend Democratic while many rural areas remain conservative; it currently has a mixed government with a Republican governor and a Democratic-controlled legislature.
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as being more religiously observant overall; it has a sizable evangelical Protestant community alongside mainline Protestant and Catholic congregations, and it is experiencing increasing religious diversity, including Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities in suburban and urban areas.
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as among the less religiously observant states; it has a high share of the religiously unaffiliated, a Christian majority with a notable Catholic and mainline Protestant presence, a smaller evangelical share, and modest but growing religious diversity.
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to Virginia
Comparison | Maine | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Orono Bowdoin College Brunswick Bates College Lewiston | University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Tech Blacksburg James Madison University Harrisonburg |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Falmouth Elementary School Falmouth Great Falls Elementary School Gorham Yarmouth Elementary School Yarmouth | Colonial Trail Elementary School Glen Allen Olde Creek Elementary School Fairfax Spring Hill Elementary School McLean |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Greely Middle School Cumberland Falmouth Middle School Falmouth Yarmouth Middle School Yarmouth | Rocky Run Middle School Chantilly Eagle Ridge Middle School Ashburn Longfellow Middle School Falls Church |
Top 3 High School Schools | Falmouth High School Falmouth Yarmouth High School Yarmouth Greely High School Cumberland | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology Alexandria McLean High School McLean Langley High School McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | Waynflete School Portland North Yarmouth Academy Yarmouth Cheverus High School Portland | The Madeira School McLean St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Alexandria Episcopal High School Alexandria |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The School in Rose Valley Portland Breakwater School Portland Acadia Academy Lewiston | The Potomac School McLean Norfolk Academy Norfolk St. Catherine's School Richmond |
Top 3 School Districts | Cape Elizabeth School Department Falmouth Public Schools Yarmouth School Department | Fairfax County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools |
How Much Do Maine to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 853 miles from Maine to Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,433 | 300 ft3 | $4.78 |
1 Bedroom | $2,131 | 450 ft3 | $4.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,519 | 750 ft3 | $4.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,115 | 1100 ft3 | $4.65 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,372 | 1600 ft3 | $4.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,216 | 1800 ft3 | $4.56 |