Colorado to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 1,282 mile interstate move from Colorado to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high altitude vs mild climate), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (mountain and modern vs colonial and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Chicken & Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% less expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in Tennessee is 17.05% more affordable than in Colorado
- Moving from Colorado to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Colorado to Tennessee movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Colorado to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to Tennessee
- High altitude
- Expensive real estate
- Harsh winters
- Limited music scene
- Mild climate
- Affordable housing
- Longer autumns
- Rich cultural heritage
- Less mountain access
- No major ski areas
- Higher humidity
- Fewer local brews
- Scenic hiking
- Ski resort proximity
- Low humidity
- Craft breweries
Pros of moving from Colorado to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high altitude and hello to mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from expensive real estate and moving to Tennessee with affordable housing
- Swap the harsh winters of Colorado for longer autumns in Tennessee
- Get ready for rich cultural heritage in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Colorado to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic hiking in Colorado to live with less mountain access in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of ski resort proximity and have to settle with the con of no major ski areas
- Time to bid farewell to low humidity and get used to higher humidity in Tennessee
- Swap craft breweries for fewer local brews
Colorado vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Hot Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burgers | Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | 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 Colorado to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burgers and sumptuous Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad 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 Colorado eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Root Down, and Snooze. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and Tennessee
Comparison | Colorado | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mountain and Modern | Colonial and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Eco-friendly features | Large yards, Historic details |
- The Mountain and Modern architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and eco-friendly features, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and historic details.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than Colorado.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Colorado.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Colorado.
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% less expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 40% increase in Colorado.
- Rent in Tennessee is 17.05% more affordable than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and Tennessee
Comparison | Colorado | 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 | Wildfires, Snowstorms | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 55Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 18Β°F | 51Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60 | 5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 15% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 3 degrees warmer than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 33 more inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and Tennessee
Comparison | Colorado | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 4.55% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.52% | 0.65% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.65% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Biotech, IT | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 27% less than in Colorado
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 10% lower than what you are used to living in Colorado
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to high in Colorado
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Colorado and less noticeable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Colorado | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, with a tendency towards Democratic candidates in recent elections | Conservatively inclined, typically favoring Republican candidates |
Local Politics | Focus on environmental and social issues | Emphasis on fiscal conservatism and traditional values |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated overall; diverse religious presence | Highly religious, predominately Christian, with a significant Baptist presence <a href="https://www.tnbaptist.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tennessee Baptist Mission Board</a> |
- Colorado tends to lean moderately liberal with a tendency towards Democratic candidates in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as conservatively inclined, typically favoring Republican candidates
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominately Christian, with a significant Baptist presence <a href="https://www.tnbaptist.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tennessee Baptist Mission Board</a>
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated overall and having a diverse religious presence
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to Tennessee
Comparison | Colorado | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bromwell Elementary - Denver Cory Elementary - Denver Parker Core Knowledge Charter School - Parker | Lockeland Elementary Design Center - Nashville New Hope Christian Academy - Memphis Intrepid College Preparatory Charter School - Nashville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | DSA - Denver School of the Arts Challenge School - Denver The Connect Charter School - Pueblo | Meigs Magnet Middle School - Nashville Brentwood Middle School - Brentwood Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School - Nashville |
Top 3 High School Schools | Cherry Creek High School - Greenwood Village Fairview High School - Boulder East High School - Denver | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School - Nashville Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Brentwood High School - Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy - Denver Fountain Valley School of Colorado - Colorado Springs The Logan School - Denver | Baylor School - Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville The McCallie School - Chattanooga |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Kent Denver School - Englewood Colorado Springs School - Colorado Springs St. Mary's Academy - Englewood | Harbert Hills Academy - Savannah Franklin Road Academy - Nashville Harding Academy - Nashville |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District | Williamson County Schools Franklin Special School District Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do Colorado to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 1,282 miles from Colorado to Tennessee will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,929 | 300 ft3 | $6.43 |
1 Bedroom | $2,871 | 450 ft3 | $6.38 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,748 | 750 ft3 | $6.33 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,909 | 1100 ft3 | $6.28 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,970 | 1600 ft3 | $6.23 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,126 | 1800 ft3 | $6.18 |
Top Colorado to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Colorado to Tennessee