Any move is a significant transition to make, no matter the distance. However, the stress of a move is even more significant when you’re moving to a different part of the country. Of course, moving from Baltimore to Phoenix will be nothing like moving from Baltimore to Paris, but there are still noticeable cultural and other differences between these cities. Whether you’re just exploring the possibility of a move to Phoenix, or you’ve already hired a Baltimore moving company to execute the job, here are some helpful things to know about transitioning to the Valley of the Sun.

Weather

Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the weather. In Baltimore, you’ve experienced the humid conditions of being on the Patapsco River, which connects to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Although winters are more challenging to the north, they’re still cold here while the amount of precipitation is above the nation’s average at 41 inches a year. In contrast, Phoenix is in the middle of the desert, only receives 8 inches of precipitation a year, and experiences the hottest weather of any major American city; summer temperatures reach 106 degrees on average. Conversely, winters are very comfortable.

Seafront Versus Desert

It’ll be a definite adjustment going from a city with a beautiful waterfront to one that’s in the desert. However, the Salt River and other rivers in the area do provide more water flow through the Phoenix area than many outsiders expect. Still, that doesn’t compare to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

History

Every city has its unique history, but some say that Baltimore’s is especially intriguing to many as it plays a significant role in American history, dating to the 1600s. With that said, Phoenix’s history is fascinating too. For example, the Hohokam people have lived here for thousands of years and were responsible for many of the area’s canals.

Sports

Sports offerings are similar between these two places. Both have MLB and NFL teams, while the Phoenix area is home to NBA and NHL franchises as well. However, half of the MLB teams participating in spring training in the Phoenix area is a significant perk for baseball lovers. Both areas are also home to several NCAA Division I athletics departments, although Tempe’s Arizona State Sun Devils are the most high-profile.

Population

Baltimore’s metropolitan area is home to 2.8 million people, while Phoenix’s is home to 4.9 million. However, if you include the greater Washington area with Baltimore, its total shoots up to 9.8 million. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s in-city population is 0.6 million, while Phoenix’s is 1.7 million.

Transportation

Transportation options are more accessible and quicker in Baltimore. You will likely need to focus more on driving to transport yourself around the Phoenix area or accepting that trips on public transport will probably take longer than what you had been used to on the East Coast. The primary issue that makes any transportation, including driving, so time-extensive in Phoenix is how spread-out the area is. Driving from one end of it to the other often takes an hour or longer while riding buses to travel that same route generally takes three or four hours.

To get into and out of Baltimore and Phoenix, their airports provide reliable options in both cases. However, you should note that Phoenix is the largest city in the country without Amtrak service.