Washington to Maine Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 3,113 mile interstate move from Washington to Maine? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Maine across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunnier days), food & health (like Salmon vs Lobster), 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 Salmon and Teriyaki, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster & Lobster Roll
- Maine housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Maine is 7.86% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Maine will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Maine movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Maine Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Maine
- Rainy weather
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Traffic congestion
- Earthquake risk
- Sunnier days
- More affordable
- Rural tranquility
- Lesser traffic
- Minimal seismic activity
- Limited opportunities
- Less developed
- Quiet towns
- Lack of tech jobs
- Fewer cultural events
- Diverse job market
- Advanced infrastructure
- Vibrant city life
- Tech industry hub
- Rich cultural scene
Pros of moving from Washington to Maine
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to sunnier days
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Maine with more affordable options
- Swap the dense population of Washington for rural tranquility in Maine
- Get ready for lesser traffic in Maine
Cons of moving from Washington to Maine
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a diverse job market in Washington to live with limited opportunities in Maine
- You'll lose out on the pro of advanced infrastructure and have to settle for the con of less developed facilities
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant city life and get used to quiet towns in Maine
- Swap the tech industry hub for a lack of tech jobs
Washington vs. Maine: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Maine |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Lobster |
Most popular meat dish | Teriyaki | Lobster Roll |
Most popular street food item | Coffee | Whoopie Pie |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | 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 Washington to Maine, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Lobster of Maine. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Teriyaki and sumptuous Coffee, Maine residents know they have tasty Lobster Roll and Whoopie Pie 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 Blueberry Smoothie of Maine. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herbfarm, and Salumi. 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 DiMillo's On the Water.
When comparing lifestyles, Maine shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Maine, compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Maine.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Maine
Comparison | Washington | Maine |
---|---|---|
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, green spaces | Proximity to nature, quiet neighborhoods |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Maine.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference views and green spaces, Maine's real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Maine is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Maine is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Maine has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Maine housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $392,358 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Maine have increased by 70% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Maine is 7.86% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Maine
Comparison | Washington | 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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Blizzards, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 80Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 75 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Maine. Maine gets 30% more sunny days than Washington.
- Maine has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and nor'easters in Maine.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Maine is 5 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Maine are 24 degrees colder than those in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Maine. Maine receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Maine
Comparison | Washington | Maine |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $69,543 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 116.5 |
State Income Tax | No State Income Tax | 5-7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 1.09% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Strong | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Conspicuous | Less Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Maine tend to earn about 24% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Maine will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Washington
- The state income tax in ME is 5-7% compared to no state income tax in WA
- The affluence in Maine is moderate compared to strong in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Maine compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is conspicuous in Washington and less visible in Maine
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Maine
Comparison | Washington | Maine |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Swing state, slight Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal policies in urban areas | More balanced, rural areas can lean conservative |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Larger Christian population |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Maine, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, slightly Democratic-leaning
- Maine's religious environment can be described as having a larger Christian population
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Maine
Comparison | Washington | Maine |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of Maine Bowdoin College Bates College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Challenger Elementary (Issaquah) | Cape Elizabeth Schools (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Elementary (Falmouth) Cumberland Schools (Cumberland) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Chinook Middle School (Bellevue) | Cape Elizabeth Middle School (Cape Elizabeth) Falmouth Middle School (Falmouth) Yarmouth Schools (Yarmouth) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Skyline High School (Sammamish) | Falmouth High School (Falmouth) Cape Elizabeth High School (Cape Elizabeth) Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) Lakeside School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) | Waynflete School (Portland) Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield) Hebron Academy (Hebron) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Waldorf School (Seattle) | Waynflete School (Portland) North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth) Berwick Academy (South Berwick) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mercer Island School District Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District | Falmouth School Department Cape Elizabeth School Department Yarmouth Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Maine Movers Cost?
Moving 3,113 miles from Washington to Maine will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,967 | 300 ft3 | $9.89 |
1 Bedroom | $4,428 | 450 ft3 | $9.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,343 | 750 ft3 | $9.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,715 | 1100 ft3 | $9.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,506 | 1600 ft3 | $9.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $17,354 | 1800 ft3 | $9.64 |
Top Washington to Maine Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Maine movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Maine