DC to Tennessee Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 19, 2025
Planning a 704 mile interstate move from DC to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Barbecue ribs), real estate & housing (federal and victorian vs colonial revival and ranch style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-smoke and Mumbo sauce with wings, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue ribs & Hot chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Tennessee is 29.94% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended DC to Tennessee movers is Bookstore Movers

Top DC to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Bookstore Movers
Best moving company overall for DC to Tennessee

Mic's Moving

Ap Pro Moving Llc
DC to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Tennessee
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Hectic lifestyle
- Limited outdoor spaces
- Cold winters
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Relaxed pace
- Abundant nature
- Mild winters
- Limited nightlife
- Fewer cultural venues
- More car reliance
- Fewer job markets
- Less diversity
- Vibrant nightlife
- Cultural institutions
- Public transportation
- Professional opportunities
- Diverse population
Pros of moving from DC to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Tennessee with less traffic
- Swap the hectic lifestyle of DC for a relaxed pace in Tennessee
- Get ready for abundant nature in Tennessee
Cons of moving from DC to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant nightlife in DC to live with limited nightlife in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural institutions and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural venues
- Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to more reliance on cars in Tennessee
- Swap professional opportunities for fewer job markets
DC vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Barbecue ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce with wings | Hot chicken |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo slice pizza | Pulled pork sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Chickpea tacos | 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 DC to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Barbecue ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce with wings and sumptuous Jumbo slice pizza, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot chicken and Pulled pork sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chickpea tacos 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 DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Chez Philippe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Tennessee
Comparison | DC | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal and Victorian | Colonial Revival and Ranch Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, Historic Charm | Large Yards, Peaceful surroundings |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Ranch Style architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and peaceful surroundings.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Tennessee housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Tennessee is 29.94% more affordable than in DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Tennessee
Comparison | DC | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 10.50% | 0.00% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Healthcare | Healthcare, Automotive, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Visible | Less noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 35% less than in DC
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 37% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in DC and less noticeable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Tennessee
Comparison | DC | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive Urban Policies | Conservative, with a focus on traditional values |
Religion | High percentage of non-religious residents | Predominantly Christian, with a strong evangelical presence |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with a strong evangelical presence
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a high percentage of non-religious residents
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Tennessee
Comparison | DC | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland College Park MD; George Washington University Washington DC; Georgetown University Washington DC | University of Tennessee Knoxville TN; Vanderbilt University Nashville TN; University of Memphis Memphis TN |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary School Washington DC; Lafayette Elementary School Washington DC; Eaton Elementary School Washington DC | Julia Green Elementary Nashville TN; Shannondale Elementary Knoxville TN; Normal Park Museum Magnet School Chattanooga TN |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Hardy Middle School Washington DC; Deal Middle School Washington DC; Jefferson Middle School Academy Washington DC | Merrol Hyde Magnet School Hendersonville TN; Signal Mountain Middle School Signal Mountain TN; Clayton-Bradley Academy Maryville TN |
Top 3 High Schools | Woodrow Wilson High School Washington DC; School Without Walls Washington DC; Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Washington DC | Hume-Fogg Academic High School Nashville TN; Signal Mountain Middle/High School Signal Mountain TN; Brentwood High School Brentwood TN |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Washington DC; Georgetown Day School Washington DC; St. Albans School Washington DC | Baylor School Chattanooga TN; McCallie School Chattanooga TN; Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville TN |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | National Cathedral School Washington DC; Washington International School Washington DC; St. Andrew's Episcopal School Potomac MD | Franklin Road Academy Nashville TN; Harpeth Hall School Nashville TN; Webb School of Knoxville Knoxville TN |
Top 3 School Districts | Montgomery County Public Schools Montgomery County MD; Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax County VA; District of Columbia Public Schools Washington DC | Williamson County Schools Williamson County TN; Maryville City Schools Maryville TN; Oak Ridge Schools Oak Ridge TN |
How Much Do DC to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 704 miles from DC to Tennessee 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,602 | 300 ft3 | $5.34 |
1 Bedroom | $2,380 | 450 ft3 | $5.29 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,929 | 750 ft3 | $5.24 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,708 | 1100 ft3 | $5.19 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,222 | 1600 ft3 | $5.14 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,160 | 1800 ft3 | $5.09 |