Connecticut to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,602 mile interstate move from Connecticut to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Connecticut vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Chislic), real estate & housing (colonial vs ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Connecticut), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and New Haven-style Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Bison Steak
- South Dakota housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Connecticut
- Rent in South Dakota is 40.31% more affordable than in Connecticut
- Moving from Connecticut to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Connecticut to South Dakota movers is Smooth Move & Delivery
Connecticut to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Connecticut to South Dakota
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Harsh winters
- Dense population
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Less snowfall
- More open spaces
- Fewer historical sites
- Landlocked state
- Limited job market
- Fewer restaurant options
- Rich history
- Coastal scenery
- Ample job opportunities
- Diverse cuisine
Pros of moving from Connecticut to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to South Dakota with less congestion
- Swap the harsh winters of Connecticut for less snowfall in South Dakota
- Get ready for more open spaces in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Connecticut to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Connecticut to live with fewer historical sites in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal scenery and have to settle for the con of a landlocked state
- Time to bid farewell to ample job opportunities and get used to a limited job market in South Dakota
- Swap diverse cuisine for fewer restaurant options
Connecticut vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | New Haven-style Pizza | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Indian Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Deli Sandwich | Jackfruit Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Connecticut to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Connecticut for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Connecticut rave about their flavorful New Haven-style Pizza and sumptuous Grilled Cheese Sandwich, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Indian Taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Deli Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Connecticut eateries like Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Louis' Lunch. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Minervas, Carnaval Brazilian Grill, and Phillips Avenue Diner.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Connecticut. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Connecticut. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Connecticut and South Dakota
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Ranch |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Easy access to public transportation, proximity to the coast | Quiet neighborhoods, spacious backyards |
- The Colonial architecture that Connecticut is known for will be replaced with the Ranch architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Connecticut's real estate listings that commonly reference easy access to public transportation and proximity to the coast, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like quiet neighborhoods and spacious backyards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Connecticut.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Dakota is less bike-friendly than Connecticut.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Connecticut.
- South Dakota housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Connecticut, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Connecticut's $393,802.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased 48% compared to a 55% increase in Connecticut.
- Rent in South Dakota is 40.31% more affordable than in Connecticut.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Connecticut and South Dakota
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Winter Storms | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 82°F / 62°F | 85°F / 60°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 35°F / 18°F | 30°F / 10°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 20-30" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 37" | 39" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Connecticut to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 5% more sunshine days than Connecticut.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Connecticut.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and winter storms in Connecticut, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in South Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 3 degrees warmer than in Connecticut.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in Connecticut.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 30 fewer inches of rain compared to Connecticut.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Connecticut and South Dakota
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,429 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 122.1 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 3-6.99% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.14% | 1.22% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.35% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Manufacturing, Insurance | Agriculture, Tourism, Gambling |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 21% less than those in Connecticut
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 23% lower than what you are used to living in Connecticut
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to high in Connecticut
- The poverty level is low in South Dakota compared to moderate in Connecticut
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Connecticut and low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Connecticut vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive Policies | Conservative Policies |
Religion | More Diverse | More Homogenous |
- Connecticut tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as more homogenous
- Connecticut's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more diverse
Education Guide When Moving from Connecticut to South Dakota
Comparison | Connecticut | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Yale University University of Connecticut Wesleyan University | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | International School At Dundee (Greenwich) Long Lots School (Westport) North Mianus School (Greenwich) | Fred Assam Elementary (Sioux Falls) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Eastern Middle School (Greenwich) Bedford Middle School (Westport) Central Middle School (Greenwich) | George S. Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Edison Middle School (Sioux Falls) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | Staples High School (Westport) Greenwich High School (Greenwich) Darien High School (Darien) | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) |
Top 3 private high schools | Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville) The Taft School (Watertown) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | King School (Stamford) The Greenwich Country Day School (Greenwich) The Whitby School (Greenwich) | Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Aberdeen Christian School (Aberdeen) Dakota Christian School (Corsica) |
Top 3 School Districts | Westport School District Greenwich School District Darien School District | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Brandon Valley School District |
How Much Do Connecticut to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,602 miles from Connecticut to South Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Extra Help Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,111 | 300 ft3 | $7.04 |
1 Bedroom | $3,144 | 450 ft3 | $6.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,202 | 750 ft3 | $6.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,574 | 1100 ft3 | $6.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,937 | 1600 ft3 | $6.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,214 | 1800 ft3 | $6.79 |
Top Connecticut to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Connecticut to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Smooth Move & Delivery
Best moving company overall for Connecticut to South Dakota