Pennsylvania to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 200 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Crab Cakes), real estate & housing (colonial, dutch vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cakes & Pit Beef
- Maryland housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in Maryland is 25.73% more expensive than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to Maryland movers is AT Movers
Pennsylvania to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland
- High property taxes
- Cold winters
- Urban sprawl
- Lower property taxes
- Milder climate
- Compact cities
- Higher cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Limited public transit
- Affordable housing
- Beautiful countryside
- Historic cities
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from cold winters and moving to Maryland with a milder climate
- Swap the urban sprawl of Pennsylvania for compact cities in Maryland
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable housing in Pennsylvania to live with a higher cost of living in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful countryside and have to settle with the con of heavy traffic
- Time to bid farewell to historic cities and get used to limited public transit in Maryland
Pennsylvania vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Crab Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Pit Beef |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Seafood Boils |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Soup | Vegan Crab Cakes |
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 Pennsylvania to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Crab Cakes of Maryland. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, Maryland residents know they have tasty Pit Beef and Seafood Boils to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Crab Cakes of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Geno's Steaks, Zahav, and Reading Terminal Market. After the boxes are unpacked in Maryland, don't wait too long before making your way to Maryland's acclaimed eateries like Phillips Seafood, Charm City Cakes, and Lexington Market.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maryland, compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and Maryland
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Dutch | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, historic details | Waterfront views, modern amenities |
- The Colonial and Dutch architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and historic details, Maryland real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maryland is more walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maryland is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- Maryland has more of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- Maryland housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased by 33% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in Maryland is 25.73% more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and Maryland
Comparison | Pennsylvania | 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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 33/18 | 41/24 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to Maryland. Maryland gets 19% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- Maryland has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Maryland.
- The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 2 degrees warmer than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maryland. Maryland receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and Maryland
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% flat | 2% - 5.75% progressive |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.58% | 1.10% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail | IT, Healthcare, Biotechnology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Increasing | Stable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 32% more than in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in Maryland will be 25% higher than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in MD is 2% - 5.75% progressive compared to 3.07% flat in PA
- The affluence in Maryland is high compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is low in Maryland compared to moderate poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is increasing in Pennsylvania and stable in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. Maryland
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds | Largely Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varies widely from area to area | Generally progressive, with active local governance |
Religion | Diverse, with strong Catholic and Protestant communities | Diverse, with a significant Catholic presence and a variety of other faiths |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as largely Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant Catholic presence and a variety of other faiths
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with strong Catholic and Protestant communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Franklin Elementary School (Pittsburgh) Whitemarsh Elementary (Conshohocken) Harding Elementary (Erie) | Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) Shipley's Choice Elementary (Millersville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Thomas Jefferson Middle School (Pittsburgh) Radnor Middle School (Radnor) | Eastern Middle School (Silver Spring) Takoma Park Middle School (Takoma Park) Burleigh Manor Middle School (Ellicott City) |
Top 3 High Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Conestoga Senior High School (Berwyn) Central High School (Philadelphia) | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School (Haverford) The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) Malvern Preparatory School (Malvern) | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) Landon School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Agnes Irwin School (Rosemont) Friends' Central School (Wynnewood) Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia) | Sidwell Friends School (Bethesda) The Bryn Mawr School (Baltimore) Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda) |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District | Howard County Public Schools Montgomery County Public Schools Frederick County Public Schools |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to Maryland Movers Cost?
Moving 200 miles from Pennsylvania to Maryland 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,118 | 300 ft3 | $3.73 |
1 Bedroom | $1,659 | 450 ft3 | $3.69 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,732 | 750 ft3 | $3.64 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,961 | 1100 ft3 | $3.60 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,693 | 1600 ft3 | $3.56 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,328 | 1800 ft3 | $3.52 |
Top Pennsylvania to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.