Arkansas to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 359 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs thriving job opportunities), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Memphis BBQ), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Smoked Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis BBQ & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Tennessee is 27.74% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Tennessee movers is B2 Moving
Arkansas to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Tennessee
- Limited job market
- Humidity and mosquitoes
- Fewer cultural events
- Less economic growth
- Thriving job opportunities
- Milder summers
- Rich music scene
- Booming industries
- Higher living costs
- Busy urban areas
- Potential for isolation
- More developed areas
- Affordable housing
- Less traffic congestion
- Close-knit communities
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to thriving job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from humidity and mosquitoes and moving to Tennessee with milder summers
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Arkansas for a rich music scene in Tennessee
- Get ready for booming industries in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable housing in Arkansas to live with higher living costs in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic congestion and have to settle with the con of busy urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to the potential for isolation in Tennessee
- Swap natural beauty for more developed areas
Arkansas vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Ribs | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Black Bean Burger | BBQ Tofu |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Memphis BBQ of Tennessee. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black Bean Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Tofu of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like McClard's BBQ, Sonny Williams' Steak Room, and The Southern Grist. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like The Rendezvous, Prince's Hot Chicken, and City House.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Arkansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, Natural landscapes | Modern amenities, Nearby attractions |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings, which commonly reference spacious backyards and natural landscapes, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like modern amenities and nearby attractions.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes, as Tennessee is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike, as Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Tennessee housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Tennessee is 27.74% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Arkansas | 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 | Tornadoes, floods | Tornadoes, earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 72Β°F | 90Β°F / 70Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 32Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 54" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 6" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 5% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a lower 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 earthquakes in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 2 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee, as Tennessee receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Arkansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.74% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Retail, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Tourism, Automotive, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Significant |
Homelessness | Manageable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 18% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Tennessee is 2% lower than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Arkansas
- The poverty level is significant in Tennessee compared to significant in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Arkansas and manageable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Arkansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Varies by County | Varies by County |
Religion | Protestant Majority | Protestant Majority |
- Arkansas tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as a Protestant majority
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Tennessee
Comparison | Arkansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) Vandergriff Elementary (Fayetteville) Baker Interdistrict Elementary (Little Rock) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) New Hope Elementary (White House) Clovercroft Elementary (Franklin) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lisa Academy North (Sherwood) Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville Middle School (Bentonville) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) West End Middle School (Nashville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Little Rock Central High School (Little Rock) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School (Little Rock) Episcopal Collegiate School (Little Rock) Subiaco Academy (Subiaco) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) The McCallie School (Chattanooga) Battle Ground Academy (Franklin) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge Schools |
How Much Do Arkansas to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 359 miles from Arkansas 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,406 | 300 ft3 | $4.69 |
1 Bedroom | $2,087 | 450 ft3 | $4.64 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,440 | 750 ft3 | $4.59 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,990 | 1100 ft3 | $4.54 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,179 | 1600 ft3 | $4.49 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,986 | 1800 ft3 | $4.44 |
Top Arkansas to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.