Moving to Maryland: Pros and Cons in 2025
If you’re thinking about moving to Maryland, you’re not alone. The Old Line State atttacts newcomers for good reason! With bustling metropolitan areas like Washington DC and quiet rural towns, there’s a place to match your desired pace of life.
As much as there is to love about Maryland, 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 Maryland to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Pros & cons of living in Maryland
Like any big move, relocating to Maryland 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 Old Line State to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of living in MD
- ✓Delicious food
- ✓Ample economic opportunity
- ✓Diverse outdoor activities
- ✓Beautiful coastline
- ✓Rich history
Cons of living in MD
- ✖High cost of living
- ✖Bad traffic
- ✖High crime
- ✖High homelessness
- ✖Peculiar alcohol laws
Things to do in Maryland
Whether you’re moving to Maryland 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, Maryland 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 Maryland
- Baltimore Inner Harbor
- Deep Creek Lake Area
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- Ocean City Boardwalk
- Six Flags America
- Assateague State Park
- Brookside Gardens
- Fort McHenry National Monument
- Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
- Strathmore Music Center
Museums in Maryland
- U.S. Naval Academy
- The Walters Art Museum
- American Visionary Art Museum
- Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
- Baltimore Museum of Art
- B&O Railroad Museum
- Glenstone Museum
- Bruce Snake Gabrielson’s Surf Art Gallery and Museum
- The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum
- Baltimore Museum of Industry
Parks in Maryland
- Northside Park
- Rock Creek Regional Park
- Wheaton Regional Park
- Centennial Park
- Hagerstown City Park
- C&O Canal Historical Park
- Carroll Creek Linear Park
- Allen Pond Park
- Catoctin Mountain Park
- Lake Elkhorn Park
Fun facts about Maryland
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 Maryland, will give you a glimpse at what makes the state unique, and may even give you a few more reasons to make the move.
- Paleo-Indians first inhabited what is now the state of Maryland. Archaeologists have found artifacts such as beads and arrowheads that date back to 13,000 years ago. They believe the Paleo-Indians came from other parts of North America to hunt bison and caribou. In later years, Native American tribes moved into the region, including the Lenape, Nanticoke, Susquehannock, Shawnee, and Powhatan tribes.
- Maryland gets its name from Queen Henrietta Maria of England. Her husband, George Calvert created the colony, but before the settlement could begin, he died and his son Cecilius continued on. Cecilius, who wanted to create safe place for Roman Catholics that were coming from England.
- Maryland is sometimes called “America in Miniature”. It has a wide topography that ranges from gently rolling hills to pine groves, to sandy dunes, and marshlands near the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland is home to lakes, rivers, and the Atlantic ocean. 400 types of birds, 90 species of mammals, 93 species of reptiles and amphibians, and hundreds of freshwater and marine fish inhabit the borders of Maryland.
- The Chesapeake Bay is the largest of more than 100 estuaries (a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean) in the United States. It splits Maryland into two halves. Captain John Smith was one of the first Europeans to visit the bay.[
- MD joined the Union during the Civil War even though it was a slave state south of the Mason-Dixon line. Being a border state, it had major divisions in its support, even among family members. The state was a battleground where some of the most decisive battles of the war were fought.
- Maryland has a state crustacean. The blue crab was named the state crustacean (crustacean comes from the Latin word crusta, which means shell) in 1989. The blue crab is commonly called the “Maryland crab”, even though a large amount of blue crabs are caught off the waters of Virginia. The crabs are in peak season from April to November, and Marylanders are known to eat their crabs with Old Bay or Chesapeake Bay seasoning.
- Another Maryland nickname is the “Old Line State”. During the Revolutionary War, 400 American soldiers led by Colonel William Smallwood, fought against 10,000 British soldiers in a 1776 battle. The “Maryland Line” was able to hold off the advancing British soldiers long enough for George Washington, leading the remaining American soldiers, to make their escape.
- Maryland’s baseball team is named after a poem. The Baltimore Ravens are named after the famous poem, The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe. Poe was from Baltimore and his house is now a historical landmark that is open for tours.
- Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. Although born into slavery, Harriet Tubman rose above her traumatic past and became a historic leader, fighting against slavery. Part of her famous underground railroad can be toured in Maryland at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. The journey lasts 125 miles starting in Cambridge to Goldsboro passing through country roads to off state highways and part of the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop.
- MD has the narrowest width of any U.S. state – less than 2 miles in the Hancock area.
- The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 lasted for 30 hours and resulted in standardized firefighting equipment. The fire destroyed 1,500 buildings and completely wiped out entire neighborhoods. Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze due to an issue with their hose couplings not matching up. The fire was the most destructive fire in the United States since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
- Maryland holds the honors as the first state in the nation to designate a state exercise. Walking became the State Exercise of Maryland on October 1, 2008.
Maryland population and demographics
While you’re thinking about relocating to Maryland, it’s important to look beyond facts and figures to get to the story they tell about the Old Line 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 Maryland, 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 | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,180,253 |
| Female | 51.4% |
| Male | 48.6% |
| College graduation rate | 48.55% |
| Political leaning | Democratic 63-34.4 |
| Crime index | 20.34 |
Maryland weather
Climate plays a huge role in shaping your day-to-day life, so it’s an important factor to consider when deciding whether Maryland 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 Maryland aligns with your lifestyle and comfort level.
| Metric | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Summer high | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 25ºF |
| Annual rain | 44″ |
| Annual snow | 19″ |
Income and cost of living in Maryland
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 Maryland.
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 Maryland and make a confident, informed decision about your move.
The main economic industries in the state include:
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($68.9 billion)
- Professional and business services ($58.3 billion)
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($37.8 billion)
- Manufacturing ($24.4 billion)
- Finance and insurance ($22.6 billion)
- Retail trade ($20.1 billion)
- Construction ($18.2 billion)
- Wholesale trade ($17.7 billion)
- Information ($17.7 billion)
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services ($16.1 billion)
| Metric | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,598 |
| Average home cost | $418,438 |
| Average income (per capita) | $98,461 |
| Cost of living index* | 100 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% |
| Average sales tax | Not available |
| State income tax | 5.75% |
*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 Maryland
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 Maryland has to offer.
Here are some of the top schools in Maryland:
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Maryland
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Towson University
- University of Baltimore
- United States Naval Academy
- Loyola University Maryland
- Morgan State University
- Frostburg State University
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Salisbury University
- Goucher College
- Hood College
- Washington College
Finding the best moving company for your relocation to Maryland
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 Old Line State, here are the best moving companies to help you transport your belongings to your new home wherever you are headed from.
- Alabama to MD
- Arkansas to MD
- Arizona to MD
- California to MD
- Colorado to MD
- Connecticut to MD
- Delaware to MD
- Florida to MD
- Georgia to MD
- Iowa to MD
- Idaho to MD
- Illinois to MD
- Indiana to MD
- Kansas to MD
- Kentucky to MD
- Louisiana to MD
- Massachusetts to MD
- Maine to MD
- Michigan to MD
- Minnesota to MD
- Missouri to MD
- Mississippi to MD
- Montana to MD
- North Carolina to MD
- North Dakota to MD
- Nebraska to MD
- New Hampshire to MD
- New Jersey to MD
- New Mexico to MD
- Nevada to MD
- New York to MD
- Ohio to MD
- Oklahoma to MD
- Oregon to MD
- Pennsylvania to MD
- Rhode Island to MD
- South Carolina to MD
- South Dakota to MD
- Tennessee to MD
- Texas to MD
- Utah to MD
- Virginia to MD
- Vermont to MD
- Washington to MD
- Wisconsin to MD
- West Virginia to MD
- Wyoming to MD
Cost of moving to Maryland
Before you take the leap to Maryland, 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 Maryland
Bringing a car with you? Use our car shipping calculator below to estimate how much it’ll cost to transport your vehicle to Maryland.
Maryland car insurance requirements
Maryland drivers license requirements
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