Moving to Maine: Pros and Cons in 2025
If you’re thinking about moving to Maine, you’re not alone. The Pine Tree State atttacts newcomers for good reason! With bustling metropolitan areas like Portland and quiet rural towns, there’s a place to match your desired pace of life.
As much as there is to love about Maine, it’s smart to weigh the good and the not-so-good before you buy a new home and pack up your belongings.
Here, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about moving to Maine to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Pros & cons of living in Maine
Like any big move, relocating to Maine comes with its own upsides and potential downsides that are important to consider.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest pros and cons of living in the Pine Tree State to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of living in ME
- ✓Beautiful outdoors
- ✓High quality
- ✓Delicious fresh food
- ✓Ample economic opportunity
- ✓Bountiful recreational opportunities
Cons of living in ME
- ✖Harsh winter weather
- ✖High tax burden
- ✖Remote
- ✖Limited job progression
- ✖Low diversity
Things to do in Maine
Whether you’re moving to Maine work, family, or just a fresh start, you’ll want to get the most out of your new home state — and that includes finding fun things to do. The good news is that, no matter your interests, Maine has lots of fun places to explore and things to do.
You can visit these places with your family or use them to meet new people if you’re alone. With so many choices, you’re sure to find something that suits you and makes you feel comfortable.
Popular Attractions in Maine
- Marginal Way and Ogunquit Beach
- Acadia National Park
- Mount Desert Island
- Kennebunkport
- Baxter State Park
- Boothbay Harbor
- Old Orchard Beach
- Portland Museum of Art
- Portland Head Light
- Victoria Mansion
Museums in Maine
- Portland Museum of Art
- Victoria Mansion
- Cole Land Transportation Museum
- Farnsworth Art Museum
- Seashore Trolley Museum
- Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum
- Bowdoin College Museum of Art
- Somesville Historical Museum and Gardens
- Maine Maritime Museum
- Umbrella Cover Museum
Parks in Maine
- Fort McClary State Historic Site
- Fort Allen Park
- Bug Light Park
- Cascade Park
- Bangor City Forest
- Penobscot River Walkway
- Winslow Memorial Park Camping and Public Beach
- Pondicherry Park
- Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre
- Fort Williams Park
Fun facts about Maine
Each state has a unique character molded by its history, culture, and residents. Learning about its small details and quirky traditions helps you understand what life there is truly like.
These fun facts about Maine, will give you a glimpse at what makes the state unique, and may even give you a few more reasons to make the move.
- Led by the French explorer Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, the first Europeans arrived in Maine in 1604 in Saint Croix Island.
- Maine’s original state capital was Portland until it was moved to Augusta in 1832.
- Maine has the most forest cover of any U.S. state. It is nicknamed the “Pine Tree State.”
- Maine is home of the Jackson Laboratory, the world’s largest supplier of genetically purebred mice and the world’s largest non-profit mammalian genetic research facility.
- Maine has over 2500 lakes and 5000 rivers and streams.
- The University of Maine is the oldest, largest and only research university in the state.
- About 90% of Maine is forested, the highest percentage of any state.
- The state has the lowest population of any state east of the Mississippi River.
- Lubec, Maine, is home to America’s only candy cane-striped lighthouse. West Quoddy Head Light stands on the easternmost point of land in the U.S. The first light house was built on this place in 1808.
- Milton Bradley, the producer of board games, was born in Vienna, Maine.
- The Maine coon is the official state cat and one of the oldest natural breeds in the U.S.
- Eartha – the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe is in the town of Yarmouth, Maine. The globe has a diameter of over 41 feet and weighs nearly 5600 pounds. It took two years to build the giant globe. And it surpasses the 33-foot-wide rotating globe in Italy.
- Outside of Alaska, Maine has the largest population of Moose in the United States.
- Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.
- Maine was a district of the state of Massachusetts until 1820.
- Maine has one of the oldest state constitutions in the country, effective since 1819.
Maine population and demographics
While you’re thinking about relocating to Maine, it’s important to look beyond facts and figures to get to the story they tell about the Pine Tree State.
A state with more people might have more jobs, entertainment, and better infrastructure. On the other hand, a state with fewer people could mean a quieter lifestyle and close-knit communities.
Average education levels show the availability of job opportunities or access to local schools and colleges. Political breakdowns may indicate a state’s values and priorities.
Understanding who lives in Maine, how they live, and what they value can make it much easier to decide if it’s the kind of place where you’d feel comfortable and connected.
| Metric | Maine |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,395,722 |
| Female | 50.7% |
| Male | 49.3% |
| College graduation rate | 35.99% |
| Political leaning | Democratic 52.6-45.3 |
| Crime index | 13.17 |
Maine weather
Climate plays a huge role in shaping your day-to-day life, so it’s an important factor to consider when deciding whether Maine is right for you. Looking at seasonal highs and lows and average rain and snowfall can help you imagine how much time you’ll be spending outdoors, preparing for storms, and adjusting to temperature extremes.
Summer highs can influence your energy bills and how much time you spend away from the AC. Winter lows determine the type of wardrobe and heating system you’ll need. Annual snowfall can range from light flurries to major storms that affect travel and daily life.
Whether you love sunshine, prefer cooler temps, or want to avoid snow altogether, knowing the climate can help you decide if Maine aligns with your lifestyle and comfort level.
| Metric | Maine |
|---|---|
| Summer high | 78ºF |
| Winter low | 7ºF |
| Annual rain | 46″ |
| Annual snow | 75″ |
Income and cost of living in Maine
A look at major industries, average income, housing costs, and the overall cost of living gives you a clearer picture of how affordable and sustainable life will likely be in Maine.
Knowing which industries boost the economy can help you evaluate job prospects in your field or foresee job market stability. If you’re thinking about renting or buying a home, housing costs are probably a major factor when deciding whether to move.
The cost of living index shows how much your money is worth compared to the national average. A lower index usually means daily expenses such as groceries, transportation, and housing are cheaper.
These numbers are more than just statistics. They’re practical tools that help you compare your current lifestyle to what’s possible in Maine and make a confident, informed decision about your move.
The main economic industries in the state include:
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($9.3 billion)
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($8.7 billion)
- Professional and business services ($7 billion)
- Manufacturing ($6.2 billion)
- Retail trade ($5.1 billion)
- Finance and insurance ($4.1 billion)
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services ($3.6 billion)
- Wholesale trade ($3.5 billion)
- Construction ($2.4 billion)
- Transportation and warehousing ($1.5 billion)
| Metric | Maine |
|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,009 |
| Average home cost | $401,297 |
| Average income (per capita) | $68,251 |
| Cost of living index* | 100 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% |
| Average sales tax | Not available |
| State income tax | 5.8% |
*To figure out the cost of living in each state, there’s a 100-point index, known as the cost of living index. This metric starts with a baseline number of 100. States with a number below that are less expensive to live in while states with numbers higher than 100 are more expensive to live in.
Top schools in Maine
If education influences your decision to move, a state’s schools reflect its career opportunities and community resources.
Whether you’re planning to go back to school yourself, have kids nearing graduation, or just want to live in a state with strong academic options, it’s worth checking out what Maine has to offer.
Here are some of the top schools in Maine:
- The University of Maine
- Colby College
- Bowdoin College
- Bates College
- University of New England
- University of Southern Maine
- Husson University
- University of Maine at Machias
- Unity College
- Maine College of Art
- Maine Maritime Academy
- College of the Atlantic
- University of Maine at Augusta
- Thomas College
- Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Finding the best moving company for your relocation to Maine
We’ve reviewed hundreds of moving companies and worked directly with customers to identify the top movers across the country.
If you’re planning on moving to the Pine Tree State, here are the best moving companies to help you transport your belongings to your new home wherever you are headed from.
- Alabama to ME
- Arkansas to ME
- Arizona to ME
- California to ME
- Colorado to ME
- Connecticut to ME
- Delaware to ME
- Florida to ME
- Georgia to ME
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- Montana to ME
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- North Dakota to ME
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- New Hampshire to ME
- New Jersey to ME
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- Washington to ME
- Wisconsin to ME
- West Virginia to ME
- Wyoming to ME
Cost of moving to Maine
Before you take the leap to Maine, it’s a good idea to get a handle on moving costs. On average, hiring professional movers will run you about $131 per hour. The total cost depends on how much stuff you have and how far you’re moving. Cross-country moves, for example, will definitely hit your wallet harder than a quick hop across state lines.
The type of move you choose can make a big difference in cost, too.
To keep costs down, choose one of the best moving container companies. You do the packing and loading and they handle the driving for you, so it’s kind of like a middle ground between DIY and full-service.
Want to save even more? The most affordable option is to get a rental truck. With this options, you’ll do all of the heavy lifting, including packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
But if you’d rather not break a sweat, professional interstate movers can do all the work for you. Just keep in mind that this convenience comes at a price. Be sure to get quotes from several different movers to find one that fits your budget and moving needs.
| Company | Quote | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Safeway Moving
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Mayzlin Relocation
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BLVD Moving
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PODS
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American Van Lines
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Cost to bring your car to Maine
Bringing a car with you? Use our car shipping calculator below to estimate how much it’ll cost to transport your vehicle to Maine.
Maine car insurance requirements
Maine drivers license requirements
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