Virginia to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 851 mile interstate move from Virginia to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler summers), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and BBQ Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Clam Chowder
- Maine housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Maine is 0.75% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Maine will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Maine movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Maine
- High humidity
- Heavy traffic
- Urban sprawl
- Higher cost of living
- Cooler summers
- Less congestion
- Scenic landscapes
- Affordable housing
- Less historic sites
- Less cultural diversity
- Harsh winters
- Limited amenities
- Rich history
- Diverse cultures
- Mild winters
- Numerous amenities
Pros of moving from Virginia to Maine
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Maine with less congestion
- Swap the urban sprawl of Virginia for scenic landscapes in Maine
- Get ready for affordable housing in Maine
Cons of moving from Virginia to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historic sites in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cultures and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to harsh winters in Maine
- Swap numerous amenities for limited amenities
Virginia vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Pulled Pork | Clam Chowder |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Italian Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Falafel | 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 Virginia to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Maine. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ Pulled Pork and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Maine residents know they have tasty Clam Chowder and Italian Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Falafel 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 Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Leesburg Public House, and La Madeleine. 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., Duckfat, and Fore Street.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Maine
Comparison | Virginia | Maine |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, proximity to amenities | Waterfront views, historic details |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and proximity to amenities, Maine real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and historic details.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Maine is less walkable than Virginia.
- Maine is similarly bike-friendly to Virginia.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Maine housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Maine is 0.75% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Maine
Comparison | Virginia | 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 | Snowstorms, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 64Β°F | 79Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 47" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Maine. Maine gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Maine has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and flooding in Maine.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 7 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maine. Maine receives 3 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Maine
Comparison | Virginia | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 7.15% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Agriculture | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Manageable | Visible |
Homelessness | Contained | Prevalent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 19% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Maine is 21% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in ME is 7.15% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Maine is modest compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is visible in Maine compared to manageable in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is contained in Virginia and prevalent in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Maine
Comparison | Virginia | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, with a mix of blue and red counties | Liberal, particularly along the coast and in urban areas |
Local Politics | Diverse, with both progressive and conservative local governments | Progressive, especially in environmental and social policies |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religious communities | Largely secular, with active Christian and other religious communities |
- Virginia tends to lean moderately liberal, with a mix of blue and red counties in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as liberal, particularly along the coast and in urban areas
- Maine's religious environment can be described as largely secular, with active Christian and other religious communities
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Maine
Comparison | Virginia | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of Maine Bates College Bowdoin College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Nuckols Farm Elementary - Henrico Arlington Science Focus School - Arlington Nottingham Elementary - Arlington | Cape Elizabeth Elementary - Cape Elizabeth Falmouth Elementary - Falmouth Yarmouth Elementary - Yarmouth |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle - Falls Church Cooper Middle - McLean Frost Middle - Fairfax | Falmouth Middle - Falmouth Yarmouth Middle - Yarmouth Cape Elizabeth Middle - Cape Elizabeth |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology - Alexandria McLean High - McLean Langley High - McLean | Cape Elizabeth High - Cape Elizabeth Greely High - Cumberland Falmouth High - Falmouth |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology - Alexandria The Potomac School - McLean The Madeira School - McLean | Waynflete School - Portland Lincoln Academy - Newcastle John Bapst Memorial High School - Bangor |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Potomac School - McLean Flint Hill School - Oakton The Madeira School - McLean | Waynflete School - Portland North Yarmouth Academy - Yarmouth Hebron Academy - Hebron |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Arlington Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools | Falmouth School Department Yarmouth Schools Cape Elizabeth Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 851 miles from Virginia to Maine will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,432 | 300 ft3 | $4.77 |
1 Bedroom | $2,129 | 450 ft3 | $4.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,517 | 750 ft3 | $4.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,111 | 1100 ft3 | $4.65 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,366 | 1600 ft3 | $4.60 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,211 | 1800 ft3 | $4.56 |
Top Virginia to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.