South Carolina to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,161 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs cape cod, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster
- Maine housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Maine is 9.92% more expensive than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Maine will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Maine movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
South Carolina to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Maine
- humid summers
- hurricane risk
- crowded beaches
- mosquitoes
- high humidity
- cooler climate
- minimal natural disasters
- pristine landscapes
- less insect nuisance
- crisp air
- cold, snowy winters
- limited seafood options
- more reserved culture
- limited golf courses
- warm winters
- southern cuisine
- southern hospitality
- golfing options
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Maine
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Maine with minimal natural disasters
- Swap the crowded beaches of South Carolina for pristine landscapes in Maine
- Get ready for less insect nuisance in Maine
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm winters in South Carolina to live with cold and snowy winters in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of Southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited seafood options
- Time to bid farewell to Southern hospitality and get used to a more reserved culture in Maine
- Swap golfing options for limited golf courses
South Carolina vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Lobster |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Whoopie Pie |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Blueberry Smoothie |
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 South Carolina to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Whoopie Pie to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blueberry Smoothie of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk, Bowens Island Restaurant, and Hominy Grill. 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 South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Maine
Comparison | South Carolina | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Cape Cod, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large Yards, Porches | Waterfront, Proximity to Nature |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Colonial architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and porches, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront access and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Maine is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Maine is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Maine housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased 70% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Maine is 9.92% more expensive than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Maine
Comparison | South Carolina | 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, Floods | Blizzards, Ice Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 79Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 40Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 46.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 75 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Maine. Maine gets 8% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to South Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in South Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and ice storms in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 11 degrees colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 27 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 3.6 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Maine
Comparison | South Carolina | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 3-7% | 5.8-7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 1.09% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Healthcare, Retail, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Lower | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 8% more than those in South Carolina
- The COLI in Maine will be 20% higher than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in ME is 5.8-7.15% compared to 3-7% in SC
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to moderate affluence in South Carolina
- The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to moderate poverty in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in South Carolina and lower in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Maine
Comparison | South Carolina | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, Republican-leaning | Liberal, Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Local governance often reflects state-level conservative values | Local governance more aligned with progressive values, particularly in urban areas |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant, with significant Baptist presence | Less religiously affiliated, with a higher rate of secular residents |
- South Carolina tends to lean conservative and Republican-leaning in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as liberal and Democratic-leaning
- Maine's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with a higher rate of secular residents
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Maine
Comparison | South Carolina | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | University of Maine Maine Maritime Academy Bowdoin College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Hilton Head Island School (Hilton Head Island) | Cape Elizabeth School (Cape Elizabeth) Yarmouth Elementary School (Yarmouth) Falmouth Elementary School (Falmouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Gold Hill Middle School (Fort Mill) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) | Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) Yarmouth Middle School (Yarmouth) Cape Elizabeth Middle School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) | Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth) Falmouth High School (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) | Waynflete School (Portland) John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor) Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hilton Head Christian Academy (Hilton Head Island) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) Pinewood Preparatory School (Summerville) | Berwick Academy (South Berwick) Hebron Academy (Hebron) Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington School District One Fort Mill School District Charleston County School District | Falmouth School Department Cape Elizabeth School Department Yarmouth Schools |
How Much Do South Carolina to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 1,161 miles from South Carolina to Maine will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,582 | 300 ft3 | $5.27 |
1 Bedroom | $2,353 | 450 ft3 | $5.23 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,890 | 750 ft3 | $5.19 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,659 | 1100 ft3 | $5.14 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,163 | 1600 ft3 | $5.10 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,107 | 1800 ft3 | $5.06 |
Top South Carolina to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Maine