Alabama to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 262 mile interstate move from Alabama to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder climate), food & health (like Barbecue Ribs vs Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (antebellum, colonial vs victorian, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue Ribs and Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Chicken & Memphis BBQ
- Tennessee housing costs are 40% more expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in Tennessee is 14.05% more expensive than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Alabama to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Alabama to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Tennessee
- High humidity
- Fewer hiking trails
- Limited job market
- Scarcity of live music venues
- Milder climate
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Growing industries
- Nashvilleβs music scene
- Higher property taxes
- Fewer traditional meals
- Heavier traffic in cities
- More tourist traps
- Lower cost of living
- Traditional Southern cuisine
- Less congestion
- Rich historical sites
Pros of moving from Alabama to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from fewer hiking trails and moving to Tennessee with the Great Smoky Mountains
- Swap the limited job market of Alabama for growing industries in Tennessee
- Get ready for Nashvilleβs music scene in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Alabama to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Alabama to live with higher property taxes in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of traditional Southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer traditional meals
- Time to bid farewell to less congestion and get used to heavier traffic in cities in Tennessee
- Swap rich historical sites for more tourist traps
Alabama vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue Ribs | Hot Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Conecuh Sausage | Smoked Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Stew | 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 Alabama to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Barbecue Ribs of Alabama for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork and sumptuous Conecuh Sausage, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis BBQ and Smoked Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew 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 Alabama eateries like Dreamland BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Big Bob Gibson. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Corky's BBQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Tennessee
Comparison | Alabama | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Colonial | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Porches | Outdoor living spaces, Proximity to amenities |
- The Antebellum and Colonial architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and porches, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor living spaces and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Tennessee housing costs are 40% more expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Tennessee is 14.05% more expensive than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Tennessee
Comparison | Alabama | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 72Β°F | 88Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58" | 54" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 6" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Alabama to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Alabama.
- Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 2 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Tennessee
Comparison | Alabama | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.4 | 0.7 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.2 | 9.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Medium | Medium |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 9% more than in Alabama
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Alabama
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is medium in Tennessee compared to medium in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alabama and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Alabama | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Conservative | Leans Conservative |
Local Politics | Focus on agricultural and industrial sectors | Emphasis on healthcare, music industry, and technology |
Religion | Primarily Evangelical Christian | Diverse; Predominantly Evangelical Christian but with a substantial Catholic community |
- Alabama tends to lean traditionally Conservative in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Conservative
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as diverse, predominantly Evangelical Christian but with a substantial Catholic community
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Evangelical Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Tennessee
Comparison | Alabama | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Legacy Elementary - Madison Mt. Laurel Elementary - Birmingham Rock Quarry Elementary - Tuscaloosa | Lipscomb Elementary - Brentwood Percy Priest Elementary - Nashville New Hope Elementary - Hendersonville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Liberty Park Middle - Vestavia Hills Mountain Brook Junior High - Mountain Brook Discovery Middle - Madison | Brentwood Middle - Brentwood Meigs Magnetic Middle School - Nashville Houston Middle - Germantown |
Top 3 High School Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High - Montgomery Mountain Brook High - Mountain Brook Bob Jones High - Madison | Hume-Fogg Academic High - Nashville Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Brentwood High - Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School - Birmingham Indian Springs School - Indian Springs Randolph School - Huntsville | Baylor School - Chattanooga McCallie School - Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Madison Academy - Madison The Donoho School - Anniston UMS-Wright Preparatory School - Mobile | University School of Nashville - Nashville Harding Academy - Nashville Evangelical Christian School - Memphis |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Homewood City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools | Williamson County Schools Oak Ridge City Schools Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do Alabama to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 262 miles from Alabama to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,351 | 300 ft3 | $4.50 |
1 Bedroom | $2,004 | 450 ft3 | $4.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,303 | 750 ft3 | $4.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,789 | 1100 ft3 | $4.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,885 | 1600 ft3 | $4.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,656 | 1800 ft3 | $4.25 |
Top Alabama to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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