New York to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 465 mile interstate move from New York to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Pizza vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (modern, high-rise vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pizza and Beef Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster
- Maine housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Maine is 27.30% more affordable than New York
- Moving from New York to Maine will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,500
- Our top recommended New York to Maine movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Maine
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Limited green space
- Noise pollution
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Abundant nature
- Peaceful surroundings
- Less cultural variety
- Limited late-night options
- Fewer job prospects
- Quieter social scene
- Diverse culture
- 24/7 amenities
- Career opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from New York 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 limited green space of New York for abundant nature in Maine
- Get ready for peaceful surroundings in Maine
Cons of moving from New York to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse culture in New York to live with less cultural variety in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of 24/7 amenities and have to settle for the con of limited late-night options
- Time to bid farewell to career opportunities and get used to fewer job prospects in Maine
- Swap vibrant nightlife for a quieter social scene
New York vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pizza | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Steak | Lobster |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Bagels with Vegan Cream Cheese | Blueberry Vegan Pancakes |
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 York to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Pizza of New York for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Beef Steak and sumptuous Hot Dog, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Italian Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Bagels with Vegan Cream Cheese they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blueberry Vegan Pancakes of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Peter Luger Steak House. 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., DiMillo's On the Water, and Fore Street.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Maine
Comparison | New York | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, High-rise | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Subway, Luxury Amenities | Access to Nature, Quiet Surroundings |
- The Modern and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and luxury amenities, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like access to nature and quiet surroundings.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Maine is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Maine is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Maine housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased 70% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Maine is 27.30% more affordable than New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Maine
Comparison | New York | 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 | Hurricanes, Blizzards | Blizzards, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/62Β°F | 79Β°F/58Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 39Β°F/26Β°F | 31Β°F/13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 45.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 75.8 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Maine. Maine gets 11% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and nor'easters in Maine.
- The average summer high temperature in Maine is 3 degrees colder than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 4.2 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Maine
Comparison | New York | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 4-8.82% | 5.8-7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.72% | 1.27% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4-8% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Real Estate | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 13% less than in New York
- The COLI in Maine is 13% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in ME is 5.8-7.15% compared to 4-8.82% in NY
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Maine compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Maine
Comparison | New York | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic-majority | Centrist with a lean towards Democratic |
Local Politics | Highly active in national issues | Community-focused with less emphasis on national politics |
Religion | Diverse; larger Jewish and Catholic communities | Primarily Christian, mixed denominations |
- New York tends to lean Liberal/Democratic-majority in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as centrist with a lean towards Democratic
- Maine's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, mixed denominations
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with larger Jewish and Catholic communities
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Maine
Comparison | New York | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Columbia University New York University Cornell University | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School New York City Success Academy Charter School-Cobble Hill Brooklyn Anderson School New York City | Falmouth Elementary School Falmouth Yarmouth Elementary School Yarmouth Cape Elizabeth School Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School New York City Special Music School New York City Anderson School New York City | Falmouth Middle School Falmouth Yarmouth Jr. High School Yarmouth Cape Elizabeth Middle School Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School New York City Bronx High School of Science Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School Brooklyn | Yarmouth High School Yarmouth Falmouth High School Falmouth Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 private high schools | The Chapin School New York City Brearley School New York City Horace Mann School Bronx | Waynflete School Portland John Bapst Memorial High School Bangor Lincoln Academy Newcastle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Collegiate School New York City Riverdale Country School Bronx Trinity School New York City | Waynflete School Portland North Yarmouth Academy Yarmouth Hebron Academy Hebron |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck Public Schools Great Neck Scarsdale Union Free School District Scarsdale Syosset Central School District Syosset | Falmouth Schools Falmouth Yarmouth Schools Yarmouth Cape Elizabeth Schools Cape Elizabeth |
How Much Do New York to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 465 miles from New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,246 | 300 ft3 | $4.15 |
1 Bedroom | $1,850 | 450 ft3 | $4.11 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,052 | 750 ft3 | $4.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,429 | 1100 ft3 | $4.03 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,374 | 1600 ft3 | $3.98 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,095 | 1800 ft3 | $3.94 |
Top New York to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.