Arkansas to Mississippi Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 322 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Mississippi? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Mississippi across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher taxes vs lower taxes), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Mud Pie), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arkansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Smoked Pork Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Mud Pie & Fried Chicken
- Mississippi housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Mississippi is 4.03% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Mississippi will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Mississippi movers is B2 Moving
Arkansas to Mississippi Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Mississippi
- Higher taxes
- Severe weather
- Limited coastline
- Lower taxes
- Milder climate
- Access to Gulf
- Higher living costs
- Less diverse landscape
- Poorer infrastructure
- Low cost of living
- Natural beauty
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Mississippi
- Say goodbye to higher taxes and hello to lower taxes
- Look forward to moving away from severe weather and moving to Mississippi with a milder climate
- Swap the limited coastline of Arkansas for access to the Gulf in Mississippi
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Mississippi
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Arkansas to live with higher living costs in Mississippi
- You'll lose out on the pro of natural beauty and have to settle for the con of a less diverse landscape
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to poorer infrastructure in Mississippi
Arkansas vs. Mississippi: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Mud Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Pork Ribs | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Barbecue Nachos | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Okra Stew |
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 Mississippi, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Mud Pie of Mississippi. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Pork Ribs and sumptuous Barbecue Nachos, Mississippi residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Po'boys 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 Okra Stew of Mississippi. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, The Pantry, and South on Main. After the boxes are unpacked in Mississippi, don't wait too long before making your way to Mississippi's acclaimed eateries like The Mayflower CafΓ©, Walker's Drive-In, and City Grocery.
When comparing lifestyles, Mississippi shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Mississippi compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Mississippi.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Mississippi
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Historic homes, community feel |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Mississippi.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Mississippi real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and a community feel.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Mississippi is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Mississippi is similarly bike-friendly to Arkansas.
- Mississippi has less of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Mississippi housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $178,490 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Mississippi have increased by 31% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Mississippi is 4.03% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Mississippi
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 93/69 | 91/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 51/32 | 57/37 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 59 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Arkansas to Mississippi. Mississippi gets 0% more sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Mississippi has higher 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 tornadoes and hurricanes in Mississippi.
- The average summer high temperature in Mississippi is 2 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Mississippi as it receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Mississippi
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $52,719 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 92.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.62% | 0.81% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 7.07% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Limited |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Mississippi tend to earn about 5% less than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Mississippi is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in MS is 5% compared to 5.9% in AR
- The affluence in Mississippi is limited compared to moderate affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is high in Mississippi compared to moderate poverty in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and moderate in Mississippi
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Mississippi
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Strongly Conservative |
Local Politics | Varies by locality | Varies by locality, with a generally more conservative tilt |
Religion | Predominantly Christian, with Baptist being significant | Predominantly Christian, highest percentage of Baptist members in the US |
- Arkansas tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Mississippi, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Conservative
- Mississippi's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with the highest percentage of Baptist members in the US
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with Baptist being significant
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Mississippi
Comparison | Arkansas | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | Mississippi State University University of Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Elementary - Little Rock Forest Park Elementary - Little Rock Vandergriff Elementary - Fayetteville | Madison Station Elementary - Madison Eastside Elementary - Clinton Oak Park Elementary - Ocean Springs |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lisa Academy North - Sherwood Haas Hall Academy - Bentonville McNair Middle School - Fayetteville | Lewisburg Middle School - Olive Branch Madison Middle School - Madison Northwest Rankin Middle School - Flowood |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy - Bentonville Bentonville High School - Bentonville Central High School - Little Rock | Oxford High School - Oxford Madison Central High School - Madison Lewisburg High School - Olive Branch |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy - Little Rock Little Rock Christian Academy - Little Rock Shiloh Christian School - Springdale | Jackson Preparatory School - Jackson Madison-Ridgeland Academy - Madison Presbyterian Christian School - Hattiesburg |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School - Little Rock Episcopal Collegiate School - Little Rock Subiaco Academy - Subiaco | Jackson Academy - Jackson St. Andrew's Episcopal School - Ridgeland Heritage Academy - Columbus |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools | Madison County School District Clinton Public School District Ocean Springs School District |
How Much Do Arkansas to Mississippi Movers Cost?
Moving 322 miles from Arkansas to Mississippi 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,385 | 300 ft3 | $4.62 |
1 Bedroom | $2,055 | 450 ft3 | $4.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,388 | 750 ft3 | $4.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,913 | 1100 ft3 | $4.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,067 | 1600 ft3 | $4.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,860 | 1800 ft3 | $4.37 |
Top Arkansas to Mississippi Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Mississippi movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.