North Dakota to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,586 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lefse vs Crab Cakes), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Bison steak, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cakes & Steamed Crabs
- Maryland housing costs are 64% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Maryland is 82.79% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Maryland will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Maryland movers is AT Movers
North Dakota to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Maryland
- Extreme winters
- Limited cultural events
- Fewer job opportunities
- Rural landscapes
- Milder winters
- Rich cultural scene
- Diverse job market
- Urban amenities
- High living expenses
- Dense population
- Impersonal urban life
- Heavy congestion
- Low cost of living
- Peaceful, open spaces
- Tight-knit communities
- Less traffic
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Maryland
- Say goodbye to extreme winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to Maryland with a rich cultural scene
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of North Dakota for a diverse job market in Maryland
- Get ready for urban amenities in Maryland
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in North Dakota to live with high living expenses in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of peaceful, open spaces and have to settle for the con of a dense population
- Time to bid farewell to tight-knit communities and get used to impersonal urban life in Maryland
- Swap less traffic for heavy congestion
North Dakota vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Crab Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Bison steak | Steamed Crabs |
Most popular street food item | Knoephla Soup | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Grilled Veggie Tacos |
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 North Dakota to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Crab Cakes of Maryland. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Knoephla Soup, Maryland residents know they have tasty Steamed Crabs and Soft Shell Crab Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Grilled Veggie Tacos of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Kroll's Diner, and Theodore's Dining Room. After the boxes are unpacked in Maryland, don't wait too long before making your way to Maryland's acclaimed eateries like Phillips Seafood, Woodberry Kitchen, and Faidley Seafood at Lexington Market.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maryland compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Maryland
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Outdoor space | Proximity to amenities, Historic features |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and outdoor space, Maryland real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and historic characteristics.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maryland is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maryland is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Maryland has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Maryland housing costs are 64% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased by 33% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Maryland is 82.79% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Maryland
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 18Β°F / 0Β°F | 42Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 20.6" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Maryland. Maryland gets 2% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Maryland has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Maryland.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 5 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 29 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maryland. Maryland receives 27 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Maryland
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 2.9% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.02% | 1.1% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.85% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Healthcare | Biotechnology, Manufacturing, Cybersecurity |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rare | Occasional |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 32% more than those in North Dakota
- The COLI in Maryland will be 31% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in MD is 5.75% compared to 2.9% in ND
- The affluence in Maryland is high compared to moderate in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Maryland compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is rare in North Dakota and occasional in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Maryland
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Liberal/Democrat |
Local Politics | Small government, agricultural interests | Diverse interests, urban & suburban concerns |
Religion | Christianity predominant, Lutheran & Catholic majority | Mixed, with a more diverse religious landscape |
- North Dakota tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democrat
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as mixed, with a more diverse religious landscape
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a Lutheran and Catholic majority
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Maryland
Comparison | North Dakota | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Minot State University | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Discovery Elementary (Grand Forks) Roosevelt Elementary (Mandan) | Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Folger McKinsey Elementary (Severna Park) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Grand Forks) | Eastern Middle School (Silver Spring) Burleigh Manor Middle School (Ellicott City) Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 High Schools | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Red River High School (Grand Forks) | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Poolesville High School (Poolesville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School (Fargo) St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Trinity Christian School (Williston) | Gilman School (Baltimore) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) Sandy Spring Friends School (Sandy Spring) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
How Much Do North Dakota to Maryland Movers Cost?
Moving 1,586 miles from North Dakota to Maryland will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,102 | 300 ft3 | $7.01 |
1 Bedroom | $3,130 | 450 ft3 | $6.96 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,179 | 750 ft3 | $6.91 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,541 | 1100 ft3 | $6.86 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,889 | 1600 ft3 | $6.81 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,160 | 1800 ft3 | $6.76 |
Top North Dakota to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.