Maine Local Expert
Greg Reid
“He gets hiccups if you touch his chin just right, and is convinced it’ll win a talent contest some day.”
See full bio
Moving from ME to Mississippi: The Lifestyle Shift Nobody Prepares For
Trading rocky coastlines and frigid winters for magnolia trees and Southern heat is a change that goes far deeper than a difference in climate. Maine and Mississippi sit at opposite ends of the American experience in many ways, from the cost of living and job markets to the pace of daily life and cultural norms that shape your social world. What looks like a simple relocation on a map often becomes one of the most eye opening transitions a person can make. Our Snappy Scout team (Greg & Katherine) dug into the real costs, logistical hurdles, and lifestyle adjustments you should have on your radar well before the moving truck pulls out of the driveway.
Who's Behind This Guide
Just How Far Is the Move from ME to MS?
Average distance
1,650miles
Typical route
I-95 S, I-85 S, I-20 W, I-59 S
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Portland, ME → Jackson, MS
~1650 miles
Bangor, ME → Gulfport, MS
~1750 miles
Augusta, ME → Biloxi, MS
~1750 miles
Portland, ME → Hattiesburg, MS
~1700 miles
Lewiston, ME → Southaven, MS
~1600 miles
How Much Is Moving to MS from ME Going to Run You?
Moving 1,650 miles from Maine to Mississippi will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
4–11days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
How Will Your Current ME Life Translate in MS?
Well, it depends. If you're a Cowboy, Retired Military, or Stay at Home Mom, you'll thrive in your move to Mississippi. But if you're more of a Coffee Snob, Adventure Junkie, or Hipster, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Maine to Mississippi.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from ME to MS
Cowboys
Maine
2.5
/10
Mississippi
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Fryeburg Fair livestock thrills, few open ranges or rodeos.
Mississippi
Gaining
Dixie National Rodeo thrills at Mississippi Coliseum.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Cowboys
JacksonMeridian
Maine
2.5
/10
Mississippi
8.5
/10
Military Culture
Maine
6
/10
Mississippi
8
/10
Maine
Giving up
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard nearby, Togus VA, welcoming towns.
Mississippi
Gaining
Keesler AFB access, VA care, Gulf Coast tee times.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Retired Militaries
Maine
6
/10
Mississippi
8
/10
Stay At Home Moms
Maine
7
/10
Mississippi
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Top schools, Sea Dogs nights, easy beach days.
Mississippi
Gaining
Top schools, Ross Barnett Reservoir parks, Saturday SEC fun.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
MadisonBrandonOxford
Maine
7
/10
Mississippi
8.5
/10
Coffee Culture
Maine
9
/10
Mississippi
6.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Tandem cortados, Bard pulls, Speckled Ax roasts.
Mississippi
Gaining
Cups in Fondren, The Greenhouse, and Oxford coffee shops.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
OxfordJacksonOcean Springs
Maine
9
/10
Mississippi
6.5
/10
Adventure Activities
Maine
9.5
/10
Mississippi
7.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Acadia hikes and Katahdin summit awaits
Mississippi
Gaining
Sandstone bluffs, Clark Creek falls, Mississippi Gulf breezes.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
Tishomingo State ParkClark CreekBuccaneer State Park
Maine
9.5
/10
Mississippi
7.5
/10
Hipsters
Maine
8.5
/10
Mississippi
6.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Portland Flea For All, artists filling Biddeford mills.
Mississippi
Gaining
Square Books, Fondren murals, Bay St. Louis galleries.
Recommended MS cities/areas for Hipsters
OxfordJackson (Fondren)Bay St. Louis
Maine
8.5
/10
Mississippi
6.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Mississippi?
Living on the Coast, it's fresh beignets with powdered sugar under the shade of a live oak while looking out at the Gulf with the sound of C-130s roaring overhead.
– Katherine Mines
Mississippi Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Maine and living in Mississippi
MaineMississippi
ME to MS: A Local's Guide to Local Food
Eating Like a Local in Maine
Forget your grinder, sub sandwich, or hoagie. This form of nourishment is called "an Italian." Hot or cold. Open-faced or closed. It's an Italian. Meatball sandwich? Meatball Italian. Veggie grinder? Veggie Italian. Italian sub? You guessed it: Italian Italian.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Mississippi
When you're in Mississippi, it's essential that you "get in a pinch" and suck some guts out of a crawfish at least once. Wear a shirt you can get messy, and don't even think about donning one of those plastic bibs--the locals will definitely lose respect for you.
Katherine MinesMississippi Local ExpertThe Real Tax Breakdown of Moving to MS from ME
Maine
Mississippi
MainevsMississippi
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
Flat 5% phasing toward 4% by 2026
Maine
Progressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
VS
Mississippi
Flat 5% phasing toward 4% by 2026
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHighest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
Jackson millage higher, Madison and Rankin moderate, Gulf Coast manageable, rural counties lower
Maine
Highest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
VS
Mississippi
Jackson millage higher, Madison and Rankin moderate, Gulf Coast manageable, rural counties lower
The Political, Cultural, & Religious Divide of ME vs MS
Maine
Mississippi
MainevsMississippi
People
PeopleYankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
In no hurry, deeply hospitable, church supper devotees, porch chat pros, generous to neighbors and newcomers alike
Maine
Yankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
VS
Mississippi
In no hurry, deeply hospitable, church supper devotees, porch chat pros, generous to neighbors and newcomers alike
Politics
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
Solidly conservative statewide, with blue pockets in Jackson, the Delta, Oxford, Starkville
Maine
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
VS
Mississippi
Solidly conservative statewide, with blue pockets in Jackson, the Delta, Oxford, Starkville
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
Mostly Protestant Baptist and nondenominational, strong Black churches, more Catholic and Pentecostal presence on Coast
Maine
Mostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
VS
Mississippi
Mostly Protestant Baptist and nondenominational, strong Black churches, more Catholic and Pentecostal presence on Coast
How Climate Look Different When You Move from ME to MS
SUMMER
Maine
beach day needs a hoodie (sea breeze chills the coast, inland towns flirt with ninety)
Mississippi
swamp sauna deluxe (Delta sizzles, Biloxi breathes through a wet towel)
WINTER
Maine
nostril freezing theater (Aroostook goes full deep freeze, Portland stays slushy and stubborn)
Mississippi
light-medium jacket weather, long pants optional (Tupelo gets surprise ice, the Coast freaks out when temps dip below 60)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Mississippi
My favorite season in Mississippi is Mardi Gras season! Starting on the Eve of Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, the Mardi Gras season is filled with parades, fancy balls, and every flavor of king cake you could imagine (and whoever gets the baby has to buy the next king cake). This isn't New Orleans Mardi Gras, it's fun--and appropriate--for the whole family.
Katherine MinesMississippi Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Mississippi
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Maine, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Mississippi. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Mississippi local experts.
Moving toBiloxi
Prep Your Flood Insurance and Hurricane Kit
