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.”
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Moving to Tennessee from ME: The Truth Nobody Tells You
Swapping Maine's rugged coastline and frigid winters for Tennessee's rolling hills and milder seasons sounds like a dream escape, but the cultural and financial shifts that come with this move often catch people off guard. Maine offers a quieter, slower paced life where locals take pride in their independence and connection to the land, while Tennessee brings a warmer social energy, a booming job market, and a music scene that feels woven into everyday life. The cost of living picture changes too, and not always in the ways you might expect. Our Snappy Scout team (Greg & Mike) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle adjustments you should plan for before loading up that moving truck.
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Who's Behind This Guide
Could You Rent a Moving Truck from Maine to TN?
Average distance
1,350miles
Typical route
I-95 S, I-495 S, I-90 W, I-81 S, I-40 W
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Portland, ME → Nashville, TN
~1300 miles
Bangor, ME → Memphis, TN
~1550 miles
Augusta, ME → Knoxville, TN
~1350 miles
Portland, ME → Chattanooga, TN
~1400 miles
Lewiston, ME → Nashville, TN
~1300 miles
Should You Move From Maine to Tennessee Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Tennessee from Maine is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
What Does It Honestly Cost to Move from Maine to TN?
Moving 1,350 miles from Maine to Tennessee 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.
That's the average.
What about your move?
Get a personalized estimate based on the details of your Maine → Tennessee move.
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Who Regrets It After Moving from Maine to TN?
Well, it depends. If you're a Cowboy, Tech Bro, or PTA President, you'll thrive in your move to Tennessee. But if you're more of a Minimalist, Coffee Snob, or Garden Club Lifetime Member, 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 Tennessee.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from ME to TN
Cowboys
Maine
2.5
/10
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Fryeburg Fair livestock thrills, few open ranges or rodeos.
Tennessee
Gaining
Franklin horse farms, PBR's Nashville Stampede at Bridgestone Arena
Recommended TN cities/areas for Cowboys
FranklinMurfreesboro
Maine
2.5
/10
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Tech Scene
Maine
4
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Remote friendly Portland startups, fewer unicorns than Kendall Square.
Tennessee
Gaining
Chattanooga gig internet, Oracle's Nashville campus, Oak Ridge brains
Recommended TN cities/areas for Tech Bros
Maine
4
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
PTA Life
Maine
6.5
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Maine
Giving up
Beach to Beacon 10K, Yarmouth Clam Festival, Falmouth Fall Classic.
Tennessee
Gaining
Williamson County schools, Brentwood fields, Collierville Friday nights
Recommended TN cities/areas for PTA Presidents
BrentwoodFranklinCollierville
Maine
6.5
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Minimalism
Maine
7.5
/10
Tennessee
5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Small spaces, clean lines, Casco Bay horizon clears clutter.
Tennessee
Gaining
The Gulch microlofts fit, but suburban sprawl and I-24 overwhelm
Recommended TN cities/areas for Minimalists
The GulchDowntown Knoxville
Maine
7.5
/10
Tennessee
5
/10
Coffee Culture
Maine
9
/10
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Tandem cortados, Bard pulls, Speckled Ax roasts.
Tennessee
Gaining
Barista Parlor espresso, Crema roastery, Memphis City & State, Don Gatos Coffee Bar
Recommended TN cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
Maine
9
/10
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Tennessee?
Not many Tennesseeans grow tobacco anymore, but old tobacco barns still stand everywhere. The sight and smell of them take me back to early Saturday mornings heading to the field, loading wagons, and pulling into the barn to hang tobacco stalks for drying. It was hard work, but Tennesseeans neve shy away from challenges. That's why we are the Volunteer State.
– Mike Stover
Tennessee Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Maine and living in Tennessee
MaineTennessee
How the Dining Scene Differs When You Move from Maine to TN
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 Tennessee
Locals from Memphis to Roan Mountain know that REAL barbeque comes wet, sweet, and sticky. Vinegar is a cleaning agent, not an ingredient in BBQ.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertTennessee looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
Personalized for your move
Real prices not guesswork
See it instantly
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The Honest Tax Reality of Moving to TN from Maine
Maine
Tennessee
MainevsTennessee
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Maine
Progressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
VS
Tennessee
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHighest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
Maine
Highest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
VS
Tennessee
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
The Honest Cultural, Political, & Religious Breakdown: Maine vs TN
Maine
Tennessee
MainevsTennessee
People
PeopleYankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Maine
Yankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
VS
Tennessee
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Politics
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Maine
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
VS
Tennessee
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
Maine
Mostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
VS
Tennessee
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
What the Climate Look Like in Maine vs TN
SUMMER
Maine
beach day needs a hoodie (sea breeze chills the coast, inland towns flirt with ninety)
Tennessee
sweet tea sauna vibes (Memphis bakes, Nashville steams, Smokies cool off at dusk). The lowlands are just plain hot; the mountains are where you want to be.
WINTER
Maine
nostril freezing theater (Aroostook goes full deep freeze, Portland stays slushy and stubborn)
Tennessee
light jacket roulette (Nashville slush, Memphis rain, Gatlinburg steals the snow). Natives say if you don't like Tennessee weather, wait a while; it'll change.
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Tennessee
Fall mornings in Tennessee combine mild but pleasant temperatures with an explosion of natural color. You don't go far to find cascading leaves and peaceful vibes.
Mike StoverTennessee Local Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
Now put a number
on it.
See what your Maine → Tennessee move could actually cost based on your move details—not somebody else's average.
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to Tennessee
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 Tennessee. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Tennessee local experts.
Moving toChattanooga
Pack Your Climbing Gear and Gig Dreams
Moving toGatlinburg
Pack Hiking Boots and Traffic Patience
Moving toJackson
Pack the Sweet Tea and Low Expectations
