Washington to Maryland Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 2,704 mile interstate move from Washington to Maryland? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Maryland across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunnier days), food & health (like Apple vs Crab Cake), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs colonial and cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Apple and Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Crab Cake & Pit Beef
- Maryland housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Maryland is 5.38% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Maryland will cost on average between $2,500 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Maryland movers is AT Movers
Washington to Maryland Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Maryland
- Rainy weather
- High cost of living
- Distance to beaches
- Volcanic activity
- Long commutes
- Sunnier days
- More affordable housing
- Closer to coastline
- Stable geological environment
- Shorter travel times
- Fewer tech job options
- Limited mountainous areas
- Less historic diversity
- Less coffee-centric
- Strong tech industry
- Vast outdoor activities
- Rich cultural history
- Excellent coffee culture
Pros of moving from Washington to Maryland
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to sunnier days
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Maryland with more affordable housing
- Swap the distance to the beaches of Washington for being closer to the coastline in Maryland
- Get ready for a stable geological environment in Maryland
Cons of moving from Washington to Maryland
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a strong tech industry in Washington to live with fewer tech job options in Maryland
- You'll lose out on the pro of vast outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of limited mountainous areas
- Time to bid farewell to a rich cultural history and get used to less historic diversity in Maryland
- Swap excellent coffee culture for a less coffee-centric experience
Washington vs. Maryland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Apple | Crab Cake |
Most popular meat dish | Salmon | Pit Beef |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Black Bean Burger |
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 Washington to Maryland, you will be trading the iconic Apple of Washington for the equally delicious Crab Cake of Maryland. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Salmon and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, Maryland residents know they have tasty Pit Beef and Soft Shell Crab Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Maryland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Dahlia Lounge, and The Herbfarm. 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 The Crab Claw.
When comparing lifestyles, Maryland shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maryland compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Maryland.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Maryland
Comparison | Washington | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Colonial and Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Eco-friendly | Family-friendly, Proximity to schools |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maryland.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference views and eco-friendly features, Maryland real estate listings often highlight attributes like family-friendly environments and proximity to schools.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Maryland is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Maryland is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Maryland has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Maryland housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $414,972 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maryland have increased by 33% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Maryland is 5.38% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Maryland
Comparison | Washington | 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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75/55 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/36 | 42/29 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 49 | 20.5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Maryland. Maryland gets 40% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Maryland has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Maryland.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Maryland is 12 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Maryland are 7 degrees colder than those in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maryland as it receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Maryland
Comparison | Washington | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $94,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 124.95 |
State Income Tax | 0% - 9.3% | 2% - 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.92% | 1.06% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% - 10.4% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Biotechnology, Services, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Notable | Less notable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maryland tend to earn about 4% more than in Washington
- The COLI in Maryland will be 20% higher than what you are used to living in Washington
- The state income tax in MD is 2% - 5.75% compared to 0% - 9.3% in WA
- The affluence in Maryland is high compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Maryland compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in Washington and less notable in Maryland
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Maryland
Comparison | Washington | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas, conservative in rural | Mixed, with liberal cities and conservative rural areas |
Religion | Less religious, with emphasis on spirituality | Traditionally Christian, but highly diverse |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Maryland, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning
- Maryland's religious environment can be described as traditionally Christian but highly diverse
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious with an emphasis on spirituality
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Maryland
Comparison | Washington | Maryland |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Medina Elementary (Medina) Sammamish Elementary (Bellevue) | Cold Spring Elementary (Potomac) Stone Mill Elementary (North Potomac) Fulton Elementary (Fulton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Lakeside Middle School (Seattle) | Eastern Middle School (Silver Spring) Burleigh Manor Middle School (Ellicott City) Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) Bellevue High School (Bellevue) The Bush School (Seattle) | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | Gilman School (Baltimore) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) Sidwell Friends School (Bethesda) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Epiphany School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Seattle Country Day School (Seattle) | Landon School (Bethesda) The Park School (Baltimore) Friends School of Baltimore (Baltimore) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District | Montgomery County Public Schools Howard County Public School System Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Maryland Movers Cost?
Moving 2,704 miles from Washington to Maryland will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,735 | 300 ft3 | $9.12 |
1 Bedroom | $4,081 | 450 ft3 | $9.07 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,764 | 750 ft3 | $9.02 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,865 | 1100 ft3 | $8.97 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,269 | 1600 ft3 | $8.92 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,963 | 1800 ft3 | $8.87 |
Top Washington to Maryland Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Maryland movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.