Maine to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 3,096 mile interstate move from Maine to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maine vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Lobster vs Salmon), real estate & housing (cape cod, colonial vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster and Lobster Roll, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Teriyaki
- Washington housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in Maine
- Rent in Washington is 8.54% more expensive than in Maine
- Moving from Maine to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Maine to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Maine to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maine to Washington
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Remote living
- Fewer cultural events
- Milder climate
- Diverse opportunities
- Urban conveniences
- Vibrant arts scene
- Higher living costs
- Traffic congestion
- High property prices
- Overcrowding in cities
- Peaceful lifestyle
- Natural beauty
- Low crime rate
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Maine to Washington
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Washington with diverse opportunities
- Swap the remote living of Maine for urban conveniences in Washington
- Get ready for a vibrant arts scene in Washington
Cons of moving from Maine to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a peaceful lifestyle in Maine to live with higher living costs in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of natural beauty and have to settle with the con of traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to a low crime rate and get used to high property prices in Washington
- Swap close-knit communities for overcrowding in cities
Maine vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maine | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster Roll | Teriyaki |
Most popular street food item | Italian Sandwich | Pho |
Most popular vegan food | Blueberry Vegan Cake | Vegan Pho |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Lobster of Maine for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Maine rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Italian Sandwich, Washington residents know they have tasty Teriyaki and Pho to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blueberry Vegan Cake they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pho of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Maine eateries like Eventide Oyster Co., Duckfat, and Fore Street. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and The Herbfarm.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maine. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Maine. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maine and Washington
Comparison | Maine | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Colonial | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to nature, Quietness | Access to tech jobs, Urban amenities |
- The Cape Cod and Colonial architecture that Maine is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Maine's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to nature and quietness, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like access to tech jobs and urban amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Maine.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Maine.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Maine.
- Washington housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in Maine, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Maineβs $392,358.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 70% increase in Maine.
- Rent in Washington is 8.54% more expensive than in Maine.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maine and Washington
Comparison | Maine | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 50Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 13Β°F | 47Β°F / 37Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 37" | 38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 20" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Maine to Washington. Washington gets 24% fewer sunshine days than Maine.
- Washington has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Maine.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and nor'easters in Maine, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 5 degrees warmer than in Maine.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees warmer in Washington than they are in Maine.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 1 more inch of rain compared to Maine.
Political and Religious Climate in Maine vs. Washington
Comparison | Maine | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal | Liberal |
Local Politics | Communities vary, with a mix of liberal and conservative areas | Larger cities lean heavily liberal, rural areas more conservative |
Religion | Less religious overall, Christian majority | Less religious overall, diverse religious communities |
- Maine tends to lean moderately liberal in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religious overall and diverse religious communities
- Maine's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall and a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from Maine to Washington
Comparison | Maine | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maine Colby College Bates College | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cape Elizabeth School Yarmouth Schools Falmouth Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Cape Elizabeth Middle School Yarmouth Middle School Falmouth Middle School | International Community School (Kirkland) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 High Schools | Yarmouth High School Cape Elizabeth High School Falmouth High School | International School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) Newport Senior High School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 private high schools | Waynflete School (Portland) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) Hebron Academy (Hebron) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waynflete School (Portland) Lee Academy (Lee) North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth) | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Waldorf School (Seattle) |
Top 3 School Districts | Cape Elizabeth School District Yarmouth School District Falmouth School District | Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District Lake Washington School District |
How Much Do Maine to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 3,096 miles from Maine to Washington will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,958 | 300 ft3 | $9.86 |
1 Bedroom | $4,414 | 450 ft3 | $9.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,319 | 750 ft3 | $9.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,680 | 1100 ft3 | $9.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,454 | 1600 ft3 | $9.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $17,296 | 1800 ft3 | $9.61 |
Top Maine to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maine to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Maine to Washington