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New Jersey to Maine Moving Guide

Updated June 5, 2025

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Planning a 522 mile interstate move from New Jersey to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs cape cod, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) and Italian Hot Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster
  • Maine housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
  • Rent in Maine is 25.90% more affordable than in New Jersey
  • Moving from New Jersey to Maine will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
  • Our top recommended New Jersey to Maine movers is Big G Movers, INC

New Jersey to Maine Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to Maine

ConsNew Jersey iconNew Jersey
  • High cost of living
  • Heavy traffic
  • Industrial areas
  • Noisy urban life
  • Limited natural parks
ProsMaine iconMaine
  • Affordable housing
  • Less congestion
  • Scenic landscapes
  • Peaceful surroundings
  • Abundant nature trails

Maine iconMaine
  • Fewer cultural events
  • Far from major cities
  • Fewer restaurant choices
  • Rural roads
  • Limited entertainment
New Jersey iconNew Jersey
  • Rich cultural vibe
  • Proximity to NYC
  • Varied dining options
  • Well-developed infrastructure
  • Access to diverse sights

Pros of moving from New Jersey to Maine

  • Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
  • Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Maine with less congestion
  • Swap the industrial areas of New Jersey for scenic landscapes in Maine
  • Get ready for peaceful surroundings in Maine

Cons of moving from New Jersey to Maine

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural vibe in New Jersey to live with fewer cultural events in Maine
  • You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to NYC and have to settle for the con of being far from major cities
  • Time to bid farewell to varied dining options and get used to fewer restaurant choices in Maine
  • Swap well-developed infrastructure for rural roads

New Jersey vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Most iconic local food itemPork Roll (Taylor Ham)Lobster Roll
Most popular meat dishItalian Hot DogLobster
Most popular street food itemSalt Water TaffyBlueberry Crisp
Most popular vegan foodVegan PizzaSeaweed Salad
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
    • Carlo's Bakery
    • Don's BBQ
    • Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
    • Eventide Oyster Co.
    • Fore Street
    • Duckfat
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from New Jersey to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) of New Jersey for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dog and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Blueberry Crisp to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seaweed Salad of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Don's BBQ, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. 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., Fore Street, and Duckfat.

When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine, compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and Maine

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Typical Architecture StyleColonial, VictorianCape Cod, Colonial
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingProximity to NYC, updated kitchensAccess to nature, historic details
  • The Colonial and Victorian architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Colonial architecture typical of Maine.
  • Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to NYC and updated kitchens, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like access to nature and historic details.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Maine is less walkable than New Jersey.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Maine is less bike-friendly than New Jersey.
  • Maine has less of an urban feel than New Jersey.
  • Maine housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to New Jersey’s $512,908.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
  • Rent in Maine is 25.90% more affordable than in New Jersey.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and Maine

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersHurricanes, Nor'eastersNor'easters, Blizzards
Air QualityModerateGood
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)85Β°F / 66Β°F79Β°F / 59Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)40Β°F / 25Β°F31Β°F / 13Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)4745
Annual Snowfall (Inches)2360
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Jersey to Maine. Maine gets 4% fewer sunshine days than New Jersey.
  • Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Jersey.
  • Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey, but be on the lookout for potential nor'easters and blizzards in Maine.
  • Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 6 degrees colder than New Jersey.
  • The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in New Jersey.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.

Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and Maine

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Avg. Household Income$96,346$69,543
Cost of Living Index129.7116.5
State Income Tax5.53%5.8%
Avg. Property Tax2.21%1.30%
Avg. Sales Tax6.63%5.50%
Top 3 IndustriesPharmaceuticals, Finance, TelecommunicationsHealthcare, Tourism, Forest Products
AffluenceWealthyModest
PovertyModerateLow
HomelessnessLowLow
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 28% less than in New Jersey
  • The COLI in Maine will be 10% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
  • The state income tax in ME is 5.8% compared to 5.53% in NJ
  • The affluence in Maine is modest compared to wealthy in New Jersey
  • The poverty level is low in Maine compared to moderate in New Jersey
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Jersey and low in Maine

Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. Maine

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Political Make-upLean DemocraticLean Democratic
Local PoliticsDiverse, urban to suburban mixRural with a focus on local governance
ReligionCatholicism, JudaismProtestantism, Non-religious
  • New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
  • Maine, on the other hand, is often described as lean Democratic
  • Maine's religious environment can be described as Protestantism
  • New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholicism and Judaism

Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to Maine

ComparisonNew JerseyMaine
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)Rutgers University
Princeton University
Montclair State University
University of Maine
Bowdoin College
Bates College
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsLittlebrook Elementary School (Princeton)
Millstone River School (Plainsboro)
Cherry Hill School (River Edge)
Yarmouth Elementary School (Yarmouth)
Falmouth Elementary School (Falmouth)
Cape Elizabeth School Department (Cape Elizabeth)
Top 3 Middle SchoolsCommunity Middle School (Plainsboro)
Thomas R. Grover Middle School (Princeton Junction)
Mendham Township Middle School (Mendham)
Yarmouth Middle School (Yarmouth)
Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth)
Freeport Middle School (Freeport)
Top 3 High School SchoolsHigh Technology High School (Lincroft)
Bergen County Academies (Hackensack)
Princeton High School (Princeton)
Greely High School (Cumberland)
Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth)
Falmouth High School (Falmouth)
Top 3 private high schoolsThe Pingry School (Basking Ridge)
Newark Academy (Livingston)
Delbarton School (Morristown)
Waynflete School (Portland)
Berwick Academy (South Berwick)
Hebron Academy (Hebron)
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsThe Pingry School (Basking Ridge)
Newark Academy (Livingston)
Dwight-Englewood School (Englewood)
Waynflete School (Portland)
North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth)
John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor)
Top 3 School DistrictsPrinceton Public Schools
Millburn Township Schools
Summit Public Schools
Falmouth Schools
Yarmouth Schools
Cape Elizabeth Schools

How Much Do New Jersey to Maine Movers Cost?

Moving 522 miles from New Jersey to Maine 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 - $4,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,274300 ft3$4.25
1 Bedroom$1,891450 ft3$4.20
2 Bedrooms$3,120750 ft3$4.16
3 Bedrooms$4,5301100 ft3$4.12
4 Bedrooms$6,5211600 ft3$4.08
5+ Bedrooms$7,2591800 ft3$4.03

Top New Jersey to Maine Movers

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

TOP PICK
Big G Movers, INC featured image

Big G Movers, INC

Best moving company overall for New Jersey to Maine

9.54/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Cimply Labor, LLC featured image

Cimply Labor, LLC

9.39/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
All Brunswick Moving & Storage featured image

All Brunswick Moving & Storage

9.30/10
ExceptionalView details

Newark to Maine

Jersey City to Maine