Arkansas to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 1,047 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler summer temperatures), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs mountain, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 170% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Colorado is 53.99% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Arkansas to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Colorado
- Hot, humid summers
- Less outdoor activities
- Lack of ski resorts
- Limited public transportation
- Fewer craft breweries
- Cooler summer temperatures
- Abundant outdoor recreation
- Numerous ski destinations
- Better transit systems
- Vibrant craft beer scene
- Higher living expenses
- Cold, snowy winters
- Less familiar culture
- Heavily populated areas
- Challenging mountain roads
- Lower cost of living
- Mild winters
- Southern hospitality
- Less crowded
- Simple terrain
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Colorado
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to cooler summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from fewer outdoor activities and moving to Colorado with abundant outdoor recreation
- Swap the lack of ski resorts in Arkansas for numerous ski destinations in Colorado
- Get ready for better transit systems in Colorado
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Arkansas to live with higher living expenses in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of cold, snowy winters
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to a less familiar culture in Colorado
- Swap less crowded areas for heavily populated areas
Arkansas vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Fried Pickles | Green Chili |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Quinoa Salad |
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 Arkansas to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Fried Pickles, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chili to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like Sims Bar-B-Que, Sonny Williams' Steak Room, and The Southern Gourmet. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Frasca Food and Wine, and Rioja.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Colorado
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Mountain, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, privacy | Mountain views, eco-friendly features |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and eco-friendly elements.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Colorado housing costs are 170% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Colorado is 53.99% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Colorado
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, floods | Wildfires, snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by location |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 15.6" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Arkansas to Colorado. Colorado gets 13% more sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 5 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 34.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Colorado
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 4.9 | 4.63 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.62 | 0.55 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47 | 7.65 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 61% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Colorado will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in Colorado is 4.63 compared to 4.9 in Arkansas
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to high poverty in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Colorado
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Moderately liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated legislature | Democratic-leaning legislature |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a strong Baptist presence Arkansas Baptist | Mixed; less religiously uniform, with a significant unaffiliated population Colorado Secular Society |
- Arkansas tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as mixed and less religiously uniform, with a significant unaffiliated population from the Colorado Secular Society
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian and with a strong Baptist presence from the Arkansas Baptist
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Colorado
Comparison | Arkansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School Little Rock Jefferson Elementary School Little Rock Forest Park Elementary Little Rock | Slavens K-8 School Denver Bromwell Elementary Denver Cory Elementary Denver |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lisa Academy North Middle Sherwood Fulbright Junior High Bentonville Woodland Junior High Fayetteville | Lesher Middle School Fort Collins Summit Middle Charter Boulder Kinard Middle School Fort Collins |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville Bentonville High School Bentonville Central High School Little Rock | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village Peak to Peak Charter School Lafayette Fairview High School Boulder |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy Little Rock Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock Shiloh Christian School Springdale | Colorado Academy Denver Kent Denver School Englewood The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The New School Fayetteville Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock Subiaco Academy Subiaco | St. Mary's Academy Englewood Denver Christian Schools Lakewood Vail Mountain School Vail |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Bentonville Fayetteville School District Fayetteville Conway School District Conway | Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village Boulder Valley School District Boulder Douglas County School District Castle Rock |
How Much Do Arkansas to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,047 miles from Arkansas to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,796 | 300 ft3 | $5.99 |
1 Bedroom | $2,672 | 450 ft3 | $5.94 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,415 | 750 ft3 | $5.89 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,421 | 1100 ft3 | $5.84 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,259 | 1600 ft3 | $5.79 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,326 | 1800 ft3 | $5.74 |
Top Arkansas to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.