Georgia to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 1,046 mile interstate move from Georgia to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Georgia vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs milder temperatures), food & health (like Peach Cobbler vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs farmhouse, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Georgia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Peach Cobbler and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Georgia
- Rent in Iowa is 40.49% more affordable than in Georgia
- Moving from Georgia to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Georgia to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Georgia to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Georgia to Iowa
- Hot, humid summers
- Traffic congestion
- High pollen counts
- Busy city life
- Milder temperatures
- Easier commutes
- Fresher air
- Tranquil living
- Limited cultural diversity
- No ocean access
- Newer development
- Quieter evenings
- Diverse culture
- Coastal access
- Rich history
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from Georgia to Iowa
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to milder temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Iowa with easier commutes
- Swap the high pollen counts of Georgia for fresher air in Iowa
- Get ready for tranquil living in Iowa
Cons of moving from Georgia to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from diverse culture in Georgia to live with limited cultural diversity in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal access and have to settle with the con of no ocean access
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to newer developments in Iowa
- Swap vibrant nightlife for quieter evenings
Georgia vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Peach Cobbler | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Sweet Corn |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Vegan Corn Dogs |
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 Georgia to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Peach Cobbler of Georgia for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in Georgia rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Sweet Corn to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Corn Dogs of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Georgia eateries like The Lady and Sons, The Varsity, and Mary Mac's Tea Room. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, The Machine Shed Restaurant, and Amana Colonies.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Georgia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in Georgia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Georgia and Iowa
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Farmhouse, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Granite countertops | Energy efficiency, Open floor plans |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Georgia is known for will be replaced with the Farmhouse and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Georgia's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and granite countertops, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and open floor plans.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Iowa is more walkable than Georgia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Iowa is more bike-friendly than Georgia.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Georgia.
- Iowa housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Georgia, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Georgiaβs $327,174.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 64% increase in Georgia.
- Rent in Iowa is 40.49% more affordable than in Georgia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Georgia and Iowa
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/68 | 86/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 52/33 | 31/14 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 36 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Georgia to Iowa. Iowa gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Georgia.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Georgia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Georgia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 3 degrees colder than in Georgia.
- The average winter lows are 19 degrees colder than they are in Georgia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Georgia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Georgia and Iowa
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,837 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 93.35 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 8.53% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.92% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.25% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Film, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 4% less than in Georgia
- The COLI in Iowa will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Georgia
- The state income tax in IA is 8.53% compared to 5.75% in GA
- The affluence in Iowa is high compared to moderate in Georgia
- The poverty level is low in Iowa compared to moderate in Georgia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Georgia and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Georgia vs. Iowa
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, leans towards Democratic | Swing State, leans towards Republican |
Local Politics | Mixture of urban liberal & rural conservative | Rural conservative with urban liberal pockets |
Religion | Protestant, Evangelical strong influence | Protestant, Catholic strong presence |
- Georgia tends to lean swing State and leans towards Democratic in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as swing State and leans towards Republican
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as Protestant with a strong Catholic presence
- Georgia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant with a strong Evangelical influence
Education Guide When Moving from Georgia to Iowa
Comparison | Georgia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Georgia Georgia State University Georgia Institute of Technology | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Brandon Elementary School Atlanta; Kittredge Magnet School Atlanta; Lake Windward Elementary Alpharetta | Wickham Elementary Coralville; Roosevelt Elementary Ames; Grant Wood Elementary Bettendorf |
Top 3 Middle Schools | South Forsyth Middle School Cumming; Riverwatch Middle School Suwanee; Dickerson Middle School Marietta | Ames Middle School Ames; North Central Junior High North Liberty; Bettendorf Middle School Bettendorf |
Top 3 High School Schools | Northview High School Johns Creek; Walton High School Marietta; Lambert High School Suwanee | West High School Iowa City; Ames High School Ames; Pleasant Valley High School Bettendorf |
Top 3 private high schools | The Westminster Schools Atlanta; Pace Academy Atlanta; The Lovett School Atlanta | Phillips Academy Andover; The Blake School Minneapolis; Breck School Golden Valley |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Atlanta International School Atlanta; Holy Innocents' Episcopal School Atlanta; Woodward Academy College Park | Maharishi School Fairfield; Scattergood Friends School West Branch; Cedar Valley Christian School Cedar Rapids |
Top 3 School Districts | Forsyth County Schools; Fulton County Schools; Gwinnett County Public Schools | Iowa City Community School District; Ames Community School District; Des Moines Public Schools |
How Much Do Georgia to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,046 miles from Georgia to Iowa will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Atlanta Home Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,795 | 300 ft3 | $5.98 |
1 Bedroom | $2,671 | 450 ft3 | $5.93 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,414 | 750 ft3 | $5.88 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,418 | 1100 ft3 | $5.83 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,256 | 1600 ft3 | $5.78 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,323 | 1800 ft3 | $5.73 |
Top Georgia to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Georgia to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Georgia to Iowa