New Hampshire to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 245 mile interstate move from New Hampshire to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Hampshire vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like crowded beaches vs less crowded shores), food & health (like Apple Cider Doughnuts vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs cape cod, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Apple Cider Doughnuts and Maple Glazed Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster Stew
- Maine housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire
- Rent in Maine is 7.68% more affordable than in New Hampshire
- Moving from New Hampshire to Maine will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New Hampshire to Maine movers is Fit 2 Move
New Hampshire to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Hampshire to Maine
- Crowded beaches
- Higher property taxes
- Limited seafood options
- Colder winters
- Less crowded shores
- Lower property taxes
- Abundant fresh seafood
- Milder coastal climate
- Less mountainous
- Sales taxes applied
- Further from Boston
- Fewer urban areas
- Beautiful mountains
- No sales tax
- Access to Boston
- Well-developed cities
Pros of moving from New Hampshire to Maine
- Say goodbye to crowded beaches and hello to less crowded shores
- Look forward to moving away from higher property taxes and moving to Maine with lower property taxes
- Swap the limited seafood options of New Hampshire for abundant fresh seafood in Maine
- Get ready for a milder coastal climate in Maine
Cons of moving from New Hampshire to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful mountains in New Hampshire to live with less mountainous terrain in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of no sales tax and have to settle for the con of sales taxes applied
- Time to bid farewell to access to Boston and get used to being further from Boston in Maine
- Swap well-developed cities for fewer urban areas
New Hampshire vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Apple Cider Doughnuts | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Maple Glazed Ham | Lobster Stew |
Most popular street food item | Fried Dough | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Maple Syrup infused dishes | Blueberry Cobbler |
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 New Hampshire to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Apple Cider Doughnuts of New Hampshire for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in New Hampshire rave about their flavorful Maple Glazed Ham and sumptuous Fried Dough, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster Stew and Italian Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Maple Syrup infused dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blueberry Cobbler of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Hampshire eateries like The Black Forest CafΓ©, Surf Restaurant, and Three Chimneys Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in Maine, don't wait too long before making your way to Maine's acclaimed eateries like Eventide Oyster Co., The Robinhood Free Meetinghouse, and Fore Street.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Hampshire. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in New Hampshire. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Hampshire and Maine
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Cape Cod, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open concepts, natural light | Waterfront, rustic charm |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Hampshire is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Colonial architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to New Hampshire's real estate listings that commonly reference open concepts and natural light, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront properties and rustic charm.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Maine is less walkable than New Hampshire.
- Maine is similarly bike-friendly to New Hampshire.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than New Hampshire.
- Maine housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to New Hampshireβs $465,926.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 68% increase in New Hampshire.
- Rent in Maine is 7.68% more affordable than in New Hampshire.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Hampshire and Maine
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, coastal storms |
Air Quality | Generally good | Generally good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/58Β°F | 79Β°F/56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F/15Β°F | 29Β°F/11Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 46" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Hampshire to Maine. Maine gets 1% fewer sunshine days than New Hampshire.
- Maine has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to New Hampshire.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in New Hampshire, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and coastal storms in Maine.
- The average summer high temperature in Maine is 3 degrees colder than in New Hampshire.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in New Hampshire.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 1 inch less of rain compared to New Hampshire.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Hampshire and Maine
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,992 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.8 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.05% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Hospitality, Healthcare | Healthcare, Retail, Education |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 23% less than those in New Hampshire
- The COLI in Maine is 0% lower than what you are used to living in New Hampshire
- The state income tax in ME is 7.15% compared to 5% in NH
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to high in New Hampshire
- The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to low in New Hampshire
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Hampshire and moderate in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in New Hampshire vs. Maine
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderate, swing state | Liberal, leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Libertarian influence | Strong community and environmental focus |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher percentage of Christian affiliation |
- New Hampshire tends to lean moderate and is a swing state in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as liberal and leans Democratic
- Maine's religious environment can be described as having a higher percentage of Christian affiliation
- New Hampshire's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from New Hampshire to Maine
Comparison | New Hampshire | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) Main Dunstable Elementary (Nashua) | Cape Elizabeth School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Elementary (Falmouth) Yarmouth Elementary (Yarmouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Amherst Middle School (Amherst) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Rye Junior High School (Rye) | Yarmouth Middle School (Yarmouth) Cape Elizabeth Middle School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Bedford High School (Bedford) Windham High School (Windham) | Falmouth High School (Falmouth) Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) | Waynflete School (Portland) John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Derryfield School (Manchester) Nashua Catholic Regional Junior High School (Nashua) Mount Zion Christian Schools (Manchester) | Waynflete School (Portland) North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bedford School District Londonderry School District Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Falmouth School Department Cape Elizabeth School Department Yarmouth Schools |
How Much Do New Hampshire to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 245 miles from New Hampshire to Maine will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: SC Moving Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,140 | 300 ft3 | $3.80 |
1 Bedroom | $1,691 | 450 ft3 | $3.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,787 | 750 ft3 | $3.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,040 | 1100 ft3 | $3.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,809 | 1600 ft3 | $3.63 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,459 | 1800 ft3 | $3.59 |
Top New Hampshire to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Hampshire to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.