Tennessee to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,362 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high summer humidity vs cool coastal breezes), food & health (like Barbecue vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maine), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Lobster
- Maine housing costs are 24% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Maine is 8.06% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Maine will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Maine movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Maine
- High summer humidity
- Limited winter activities
- Heavy traffic in cities
- Cool coastal breezes
- Excellent skiing options
- Less congestion in towns
- Harsh winter weather
- Fewer regional dishes
- Higher living expenses
- Mild winters
- Southern cuisine
- Low cost of living
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Maine
- Say goodbye to high summer humidity and hello to cool coastal breezes
- Look forward to moving away from limited winter activities and moving to Maine with excellent skiing options
- Swap the heavy traffic in the cities of Tennessee for less congestion in the towns of Maine
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Tennessee to live with harsh winter weather in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of Southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer regional dishes
- Time to bid farewell to the low cost of living and get used to higher living expenses in Maine
Tennessee vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Lobster |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Fried Clams |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Seaweed Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Tennessee to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Barbecue of Tennessee for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster and Fried Clams to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit 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 Tennessee eateries like Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, Prince's Hot Chicken, and The Southern Steak and Oyster. 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 Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Maine
Comparison | Tennessee | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, access to mountains | Proximity to coast, historic charm |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and access to mountains, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the coast and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Maine is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Maine is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Maine housing costs are 24% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Maine is 8.06% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Maine
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Storms, Tornadoes | Snowstorms, Ice storms |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88Β°F / 67Β°F | 79Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 30Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53" | 45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Maine. Maine gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible storms and tornadoes in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and ice storms in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 9 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Maine. Maine receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Maine
Comparison | Tennessee | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5.8% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.5% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Retail, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Noticeable | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Manageable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 7% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Maine will be 31% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to ME, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.8%
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is noticeable in Maine compared to noticeable in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Tennessee and manageable in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Maine
Comparison | Tennessee | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Liberal/Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies by county | Progressive in urban areas |
Religion | Protestant Majority | Less religiously affiliated |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
- Maine's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant Majority
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Maine
Comparison | Tennessee | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lipscomb Elementary Brentwood Riverdale Elementary Germantown Edmondson Elementary Brentwood | Cape Elizabeth Schools Cape Elizabeth Falmouth Elementary School Falmouth Yarmouth Schools Yarmouth |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School Brentwood Page Middle School Franklin Rucker Stewart Middle Gallatin | Yarmouth Middle School Yarmouth Falmouth Middle School Falmouth Cape Elizabeth Middle School Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet Nashville Central Magnet School Murfreesboro Brentwood High School Brentwood | Greely High School Cumberland Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth Yarmouth High School Yarmouth |
Top 3 private high schools | Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville Baylor School Chattanooga Ensworth School Nashville | Waynflete School Portland Lincoln Academy Newcastle George Stevens Academy Blue Hill |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Baylor School Chattanooga Ensworth School Nashville Webb School Knoxville | Waynflete School Portland Fryeburg Academy Fryeburg Lincoln Academy Newcastle |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Franklin Maryville City Schools Maryville Oak Ridge School District Oak Ridge | Falmouth Schools Falmouth Cape Elizabeth Schools Cape Elizabeth Yarmouth Schools Yarmouth |
How Much Do Tennessee to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 1,362 miles from Tennessee to Maine will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,975 | 300 ft3 | $6.58 |
1 Bedroom | $2,939 | 450 ft3 | $6.53 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,862 | 750 ft3 | $6.48 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,075 | 1100 ft3 | $6.43 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,211 | 1600 ft3 | $6.38 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,398 | 1800 ft3 | $6.33 |
Top Tennessee to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Maine