Alabama to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 655 mile interstate move from Alabama to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder summers), food & health (like Alabama BBQ vs Hoosier Pie), real estate & housing (antebellum, craftsman vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Indiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Alabama BBQ and Pulled pork, but get your taste buds ready for Hoosier Pie & Pork tenderloin sandwich
- Indiana housing costs are 5% more expensive than those in Alabama
- Rent in Indiana is 8.46% more affordable than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to Indiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Alabama to Indiana movers is MoveDaddy
Alabama to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Indiana
- High humidity
- Limited snowfall
- Fewer job opportunities
- Fewer tech industries
- Hurricane risk
- Milder summers
- Winter activities
- Diverse job market
- Growing tech sector
- Low natural disaster risk
- Less laid-back lifestyle
- Cold, long winters
- Higher living costs
- Midwestern diet
- More urban areas
- Southern charm
- Warm winters
- Low cost living
- Delicious cuisine
- Lush landscape
Pros of moving from Alabama to Indiana
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited snowfall and moving to Indiana with winter activities
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of Alabama for a diverse job market in Indiana
- Get ready for a growing tech sector in Indiana
Cons of moving from Alabama to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern charm in Alabama to live with a less laid-back lifestyle in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of cold, long winters
- Time to bid farewell to a low cost of living and get used to higher living costs in Indiana
- Swap delicious cuisine for a Midwestern diet
Alabama vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Alabama BBQ | Hoosier Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork | Pork tenderloin sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled peanuts | Popcorn |
Most popular vegan food | Collard greens | Elote corn |
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 Alabama to Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Alabama BBQ of Alabama for the equally delicious Hoosier Pie of Indiana. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful pulled pork and sumptuous boiled peanuts, Indiana residents know they have tasty pork tenderloin sandwiches and popcorn to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the collard greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the elote corn of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Highlands Bar and Grill, Sawβs BBQ, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and The Rathskeller.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Indiana
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Craftsman | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, hardwood floors | Energy efficiency, Smart home features |
- The Antebellum and Craftsman architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and hardwood floors, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and smart home features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Indiana is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Indiana is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Indiana has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Indiana housing costs are 5% more expensive than those in Alabama, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Indiana is 8.46% more affordable than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Indiana
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 2 | 26 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Alabama to Indiana. Indiana gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Alabama.
- Indiana has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Alabama.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Alabama, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Indiana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 5 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows in Indiana are 16 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Indiana. Indiana receives 16 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Indiana
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.42% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.24% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Automotive, Banking | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 12% more than those in Alabama
- The COLI in Indiana is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Alabama
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23% compared to 5% in AL
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to high in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Alabama and moderate in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Indiana
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative; tends to vote Republican in national elections | Moderately conservative; fluctuates between Republican and Democrat in presidential elections |
Local Politics | Local policies strongly influenced by conservative values | Varies by county, with urban areas leaning more liberal and rural areas more conservative |
Religion | High percentage of evangelical Protestants; strong Baptist presence | Diverse, with a significant Catholic community and Protestant presence |
- Alabama tends to lean conservative and tends to vote Republican in its national elections.
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as moderately conservative and fluctuates between Republican and Democrat in presidential elections.
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant Catholic community and Protestant presence.
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a high percentage of evangelical Protestants with a strong Baptist presence.
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Indiana
Comparison | Alabama | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of South Alabama | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rock Quarry Elementary (Tuscaloosa) Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills) Mt Laurel Elementary (Birmingham) | Signature School (Evansville) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) Burris Laboratory School (Muncie) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountain Brook Junior High (Mountain Brook) Liberty Park Middle (Vestavia Hills) Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills) | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) Carmel Middle School (Carmel) Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Lawrence) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High (Mountain Brook) Bob Jones High School (Madison) | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High School (Carmel) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) |
Top 3 private high schools | Randolph School (Huntsville) The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) | Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools Madison City Schools | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Zionsville Community Schools |
How Much Do Alabama to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 655 miles from Alabama to Indiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-13 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Latitude Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,574 | 300 ft3 | $5.25 |
1 Bedroom | $2,338 | 450 ft3 | $5.20 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,860 | 750 ft3 | $5.15 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,606 | 1100 ft3 | $5.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,074 | 1600 ft3 | $5.05 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,993 | 1800 ft3 | $5.00 |
Top Alabama to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.