Iowa to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 2,829 mile interstate move from Iowa to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity vs crisp air), food & health (like Corn on the Cob vs Salmon), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs log cabin and modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn on the Cob and Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & King Crab
- Alaska housing costs are 66% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Alaska is 61.22% more expensive than in Iowa
- Our top recommended Iowa to Alaska movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Alaska
- Humidity
- Summer storms
- Lack of wilderness
- Flat terrain
- Crisp air
- Scenic landscapes
- Abundant wildlife
- Majestic mountains
- Remote living
- Isolation
- Limited job options
- Harsh winters
- Accessible amenities
- Familiar community
- Stable job market
- Warmer winters
Pros of moving from Iowa to Alaska
- Say goodbye to humidity and hello to crisp air
- Look forward to moving away from summer storms and moving to Alaska with scenic landscapes
- Swap the lack of wilderness in Iowa for abundant wildlife in Alaska
- Get ready for majestic mountains in Alaska
Cons of moving from Iowa to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from accessible amenities in Iowa to live with remote living in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of a familiar community and have to settle with the con of isolation
- Time to bid farewell to a stable job market and get used to limited job options in Alaska
- Swap warmer winters for harsh winters
Iowa vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn on the Cob | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | King Crab |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled Veggie Skewers | Kelp Pickles |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Iowa to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Corn on the Cob of Iowa for the equally delicious Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Alaska residents know they have tasty King Crab and Reindeer Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grilled Veggie Skewers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Kelp Pickles of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Iowa Smokehouse, The American Diner, and The Field of Dreams Movie Site. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like The Salmon Bake, The Alaskan Eatery, and King Crab Shack.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Alaska
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Log Cabin and Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Backyards, Hardwood Floors | Scenic Views, Proximity to Nature |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Log Cabin and Modern architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and hardwood floors, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away, as Alaska is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Alaska is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Alaska housing costs are 66% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 61.22% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Alaska
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Earthquakes, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 60Β°F / 44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 14Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 22 (variable by region) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 75 (variable by region) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Iowa to Alaska. Alaska gets 25% fewer sunshine days than Iowa.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and avalanches in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 22 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees colder than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Alaska
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 8.53 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53 | 1.19 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94 | 1.76 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Oil, Fishing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 27% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Alaska is 38% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- Hooray, moving to Alaska means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is high compared to moderate affluence in Iowa
- The poverty level is moderate in Alaska compared to low poverty in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and high in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Alaska
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Republican/Democratic | Republican lean |
Local Politics | Focus on agriculture, education | Emphasis on oil, fishing industries |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity predominant, notable indigenous spiritual practices |
- Iowa tends to lean moderately Republican/Democratic in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as Republican lean
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity and notable indigenous spiritual practices
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Alaska
Comparison | Iowa | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Willowwind School (Iowa City) | Rogers Park Elementary (Anchorage) Northern Lights ABC K-8 School (Anchorage) Pearl Creek Elementary (Fairbanks) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Southeast Junior High (Iowa City) Ames Middle School (Ames) | Mears Middle School (Anchorage) Romig Middle School (Anchorage) Randy Smith Middle School (Fairbanks) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | West Anchorage High School (Anchorage) South Anchorage High School (Anchorage) Dimond High School (Anchorage) |
Top 3 private high schools | Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Regina High School (Iowa City) | Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage) Lumen Christi High School (Anchorage) Grace Christian School (Anchorage) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Pacific Northern Academy (Anchorage) Anchorage Christian Schools (Anchorage) Birchwood Christian School (Chugiak) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Des Moines Independent Community School District | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District |
Top Iowa to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.