Alaska to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 3,390 mile interstate move from Alaska to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alaska vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs mild, sunny climate), food & health (like King Crab vs Memphis BBQ), real estate & housing (log cabins, modern vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to King Crab and Reindeer Sausage, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis BBQ & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Alaska
- Rent in Tennessee is 3.49% more affordable than in Alaska
- Our top recommended Alaska to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Alaska to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alaska to Tennessee
- Long, harsh winters
- Remote location
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Expensive groceries
- Mild, sunny climate
- Centralized location
- Affordable housing
- Diverse job opportunities
- Lower food costs
- Fewer outdoor adventures
- Higher population density
- Less diverse wildlife
- Conventional daylight hours
- Missed natural phenomena
- Stunning natural landscapes
- Low population density
- Unique wildlife
- Midnight sun
- Aurora Borealis
Pros of moving from Alaska to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a mild, sunny climate
- Look forward to moving away from a remote location and moving to Tennessee with a centralized location
- Swap the high cost of living in Alaska for affordable housing in Tennessee
- Get ready for diverse job opportunities in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Alaska to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning natural landscapes in Alaska to live with fewer outdoor adventures in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of low population density and have to settle for the con of higher population density
- Time to bid farewell to unique wildlife and get used to less diverse wildlife in Tennessee
- Swap the midnight sun for conventional daylight hours
Alaska vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | King Crab | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Reindeer Sausage | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Halibut Tacos | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Kelp Pickles | BBQ Jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alaska to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic King Crab of Alaska for the equally delicious Memphis BBQ of Tennessee. And while the locals in Alaska rave about their flavorful Reindeer Sausage and sumptuous Halibut Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kelp Pickles they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alaska eateries like Simon & Seafort's, The Hangar on the Wharf, and The Saltry. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alaska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Alaska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alaska and Tennessee
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Log Cabins, Modern | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious, Natural Light | Hardwood Floors, Open Floor Plan |
- The Log Cabins and Modern architecture that Alaska is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Alaska's real estate listings that commonly reference spaciousness and natural light, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and an open floor plan.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Alaska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Alaska.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Alaska.
- Tennessee housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Alaska, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Alaskaβs $354,563.
- Over the prior 9 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 116% compared to a 34% increase in Alaska.
- Rent in Tennessee is 3.49% more affordable than in Alaska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alaska and Tennessee
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 44Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 20Β°F / -10Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alaska to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 38% more sunshine days than Alaska.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alaska.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Alaska, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 29 degrees warmer than in Alaska.
- The average winter lows are 40 degrees warmer than they are in Alaska.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 28 more inches of rain compared to Alaska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alaska and Tennessee
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,121 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 132.6 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.19% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 1.76% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Government, Fishing | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Music |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Average | Moderate |
Homelessness | Notable | Moderate |
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Political and Religious Climate in Alaska vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, leans Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Independent-leaning, diverse local governments | Conservative, with local politics reflecting state-wide trends |
Religion | Varied, less religious overall | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Alaska tends to lean mixed and leans Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Alaska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied and less religious overall
Education Guide When Moving from Alaska to Tennessee
Comparison | Alaska | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Middle Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Aurora Elementary - Anchorage Northern Lights ABC K-8 School - Anchorage Pearl Creek Elementary - Fairbanks | Lockeland Elementary Design Center - Nashville New Hope Christian Academy - Memphis Percy Priest Elementary - Nashville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Romig Middle School - Anchorage Mears Middle School - Anchorage Mirror Lake Middle School - Chugiak | Meigs Magnet Middle School - Nashville Houston Middle School - Germantown Brentwood Middle School - Brentwood |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School - Anchorage South Anchorage High School - Anchorage Eagle River High School - Eagle River | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School - Nashville Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Brentwood High School - Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | Holy Rosary Academy - Anchorage Lumen Christi High School - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage | Baylor School - Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville Harpeth Hall School - Nashville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Pacific Northern Academy - Anchorage Anchor Lutheran School - Anchorage Birchwood Christian School - Chugiak | Webb School of Knoxville - Knoxville Davidson Academy - Nashville Franklin Classical School - Franklin |
Top 3 School Districts | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District |
Top Alaska to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alaska to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Alaska to Tennessee