DC to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 603 mile interstate move from DC to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Pork Tenderloin Sandwich), real estate & housing (victorian and colonial vs craftsman and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-smoke and Peruvian Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Pork Tenderloin Sandwich & Hoosier Pie
- Indiana housing costs are 62% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Indiana is 43.76% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Indiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended DC to Indiana movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Indiana
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Urban noise
- Humidity
- Limited space
- Affordable housing
- Ease of commute
- Peaceful countryside
- Milder summers
- Spacious homes
- Less diverse
- Limited transit options
- Fewer openings
- Fewer landmarks
- Smaller museums
- Cultural diversity
- Public transport
- Job opportunities
- Historic sites
- World-class museums
Pros of moving from DC to Indiana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Indiana with ease of commute
- Swap the urban noise of DC for the peaceful countryside in Indiana
- Get ready for milder summers in Indiana
Cons of moving from DC to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cultural diversity in DC to live with less diversity in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transport and have to settle for the con of limited transit options
- Time to bid farewell to job opportunities and get used to fewer openings in Indiana
- Swap historic sites for fewer landmarks
DC vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular meat dish | Peruvian Chicken | Hoosier Pie |
Most popular street food item | Mumbo Sauce Wings | Corn Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Falafel | Seitan Sandwich |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Peruvian Chicken and sumptuous Mumbo Sauce Wings, Indiana residents know they have tasty Hoosier Pie and Corn Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Falafel they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Sandwich of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rose's Luxury, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Indiana
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian and Colonial | Craftsman and Ranch |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, historic charm | Spacious lots, family-friendly |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like spacious lots and family-friendly environments.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Indiana is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Indiana is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Indiana has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Indiana housing costs are 62% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Indiana is 43.76% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Indiana
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 87°F / 71°F | 85°F / 64°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F / 28°F | 36°F / 20°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39.74" | 42.20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Indiana. Indiana gets 8% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Indiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 2 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 2.5 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Indiana
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 8.95% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.87% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.75% | 7.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Tourism, Finance | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Above Average | Below Average |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 34% less than in DC
- The COLI in Indiana will be 34% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23% compared to 8.95% in DC
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is above average in DC and below average in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Indiana
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Moderately Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal Policies | Conservative Policies |
Religion | Multiculturally Diverse Religious Landscape | Predominantly Christian |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Republican
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a multiculturally diverse religious landscape
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Indiana
Comparison | DC | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Georgetown University Howard University | Indiana University Bloomington Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary School Janney Elementary School Eaton Elementary School | Signature School West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School Herron High School |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Eliot-Hine Middle School | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School Herron High School Fall Creek Junior High |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls High School Banneker High School | Carmel High School West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School Signature School |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School | Culver Academies Park Tudor School Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School | International School of Indiana Culver Academies Park Tudor School |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Zionsville Community Schools |
How Much Do DC to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 603 miles from DC to Indiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,544 | 300 ft3 | $5.15 |
1 Bedroom | $2,294 | 450 ft3 | $5.10 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,786 | 750 ft3 | $5.05 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,498 | 1100 ft3 | $5.00 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,916 | 1600 ft3 | $4.95 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,816 | 1800 ft3 | $4.90 |
Top DC to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.