Part of the Moving to Maine guide
From locals, not a chamber of commerce. Updated April 2026.
Short Answer
Moving to Maine from New Jersey usually means trading high property taxes and dense suburbs for lower taxes and real space. Maine doesn't tax Social Security (NJ does), property taxes are highly variable but often lower than the NJ average, and the population density drop is significant. The climate is colder and snowier, especially inland. The full Moving to Maine guide covers cost of living and best towns by region.
The single biggest reaction NJ transplants have on day one in Maine isn't about the trees or the ocean. It's about the property tax bill being one-third of what they were paying in Bergen County.
For example
A common move: a North Jersey family selling a $700k 4-bedroom in Bergen County (paying $14k/year in property taxes) buys a comparable 4-bedroom in Brunswick, Maine for $475k (paying $6k/year in property taxes), or in Bangor for $300k (paying $5k/year). The combination of lower price and lower property taxes is what makes the math work.
The most common path is a North or Central NJ family looking for lower property taxes, more land, and a slower pace. Greater Portland is the natural first stop because it has the most amenities. The midcoast (Brunswick, Camden, Belfast) is the second most common landing spot for people who want coastal life without commuting requirements. The cost-arbitrage move (Bangor, Waterville) is rarer for ex-NJ but increasingly common with remote work. South Jersey transplants often skip Greater Portland entirely and look midcoast or inland because they're already used to a less dense scale.
Housing in Greater Portland is similar to mid-priced North Jersey suburbs, often slightly cheaper. Inland Maine (Bangor, Waterville, Augusta) is dramatically cheaper than almost anywhere in NJ: median home prices $180k-$300k versus NJ's typical $400k-$700k. Property taxes are where the biggest gap shows up: NJ has among the highest property taxes in the U.S., often $10k-$15k+ on a typical home. Maine's mill rates vary widely town to town, but most inland and central Maine towns run $4k-$7k on a comparable home. Heating costs in Maine are higher than in NJ; budget $2,500-$5,000 a year.
Want a town that fits your situation?
Find your best-fit town →Income tax: Maine 5.8-7.15% graduated; NJ 1.4-10.75% with a steeper graduation. Most middle-income earners pay similar; high-income earners pay less in Maine. Sales tax: Maine 5.5%, NJ 6.625%. Property tax: NJ averages among the highest in the U.S. (effective rate ~2.3%); Maine averages closer to 1.3% but varies sharply by town. Social Security: Maine doesn't tax it; NJ exempts up to $100k for retirees with limited other income. Estate tax: Maine kicks in above $7M; NJ has no estate tax (eliminated in 2018) but does have inheritance tax for non-direct heirs. Net: most NJ households save meaningfully on total taxes by moving to Maine, especially retirees and homeowners.
Maine is colder and snowier than NJ across the board. North Jersey winter (~25-35 inches of snow per year) compares to coastal Maine (60-80 inches) and inland Maine (80-120 inches). The cold is similar to slightly worse: NJ rarely gets below 0°F, while Maine sees sub-zero stretches in January and February. The biggest adjustment is duration: 5+ months of real winter vs NJ's roughly 3 months. Snow tires and AWD are standard equipment in Maine; in NJ you can usually get away with all-seasons.
Falmouth, Cumberland, or Cape Elizabeth for ex-North-Jersey families targeting top schools (similar pricing to Bergen/Morris County but lower taxes). Brunswick or Yarmouth for the suburb-with-character pick at a meaningful discount. Camden or Belfast for postcard coastal living. Bangor or Waterville for genuine cost arbitrage if you can work remotely (most NJ professionals are stunned by the housing prices here). Wells, Kennebunk, or Saco if you need to commute to Boston regularly via Amtrak.
Yes, if
You're tired of NJ property tax bills and you can either work remotely, find a Maine job, or accept a much longer commute. You want real four-season weather and you've spent time in northern NJ or northern New England. You're prepared for the population-density drop.
No, if
You can't tolerate the cultural and density drop from suburban NJ. You need ethnic-food density (limited in Maine). You're moving for cost but won't go further than Greater Portland (where prices are still meaningful).
Best for ex-NJ professionals who want a real city + ocean
Best cost arbitrage from NJ (lower property taxes especially)
Best small city with revival momentum
Best for stable government jobs at low housing cost
Best for ex-NJ coastal lovers (expensive but lower taxes than NJ shore)
On average, yes, but it varies sharply by Maine town. NJ averages around 2.3% effective property tax; Maine averages around 1.3%. A $400k home that pays $9,200/year in NJ might pay $5,000-$7,000 in most Maine towns, with the cheapest mill rates closer to $4,000.
Yes, especially for housing outside Greater Portland and for property taxes statewide. Inland Maine cities like Bangor, Waterville, and Augusta have median home prices roughly half what they are in most of New Jersey.
Not daily, realistically. Portland to Newark is 6+ hours by car. Most ex-NJ residents either work remotely, find Maine jobs, or do quarterly trips by air (Portland or Boston) or Amtrak (Downeaster from Brunswick/Portland to Boston, then train south).
Greater Portland, Brunswick/Freeport, the midcoast, and increasingly Bangor for the cost-and-tax arbitrage. The pattern: families targeting top schools land in Greater Portland suburbs; cost-driven movers go inland.
Get the free Maine moving checklist, or jump into one of our deep town guides.