Iowa to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 670 mile interstate move from Iowa to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (prairie school, ranch vs colonial revival, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Iowa), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Grilled Pork Chops, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Smoked Barbecue Ribs
- Arkansas housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Arkansas is 21.80% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Arkansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to Arkansas movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Arkansas
- Cold winters
- Flat landscape
- Higher taxes
- Limited nightlife
- Milder winters
- Scenic mountains
- Lower taxes
- Vibrant cities
- Less community feel
- Less economic diversity
- Higher crime rates
- Less fertile land
- Community-oriented
- Stable economy
- Low crime rates
- Rich agriculture
Pros of moving from Iowa to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscape and moving to Arkansas with scenic mountains
- Swap the higher taxes of Iowa for lower taxes in Arkansas
- Get ready for vibrant cities in Arkansas
Cons of moving from Iowa to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a community-oriented atmosphere in Iowa to live with a less community feel in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of a stable economy and have to settle for the con of less economic diversity
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in Arkansas
- Swap rich agriculture for less fertile land
Iowa vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pork Chops | Smoked Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Stir Fry | Vegetable Jambalaya |
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 Iowa to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Grilled Pork Chops and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Barbecue Ribs and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Stir Fry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Jambalaya of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Machine Shed, Zombie Burger, and Amana Colonies. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Sonny Williams' Steak Room, and The Pantry.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Arkansas
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie School, Ranch | Colonial Revival, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Yards, Efficient Layout | Natural Scenery, Proximity to Water |
- The Prairie School and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Craftsman architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and efficient layouts, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like natural scenery and proximity to water.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Arkansas is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike because Arkansas is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Arkansas housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Iowa with a median home price of $203,305 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Arkansas is 21.80% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Arkansas
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 92Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 14Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 32" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 6% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Arkansas has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 10 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas. Arkansas receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Arkansas
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 8.5% | 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.5% | 0.6% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 9.47% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Low | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 20% less than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Arkansas is 6% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in Arkansas is 7% compared to 8.5% in Iowa
- The affluence in Arkansas is lower compared to moderate affluence in Iowa
- The poverty level is higher in Arkansas compared to low poverty in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Arkansas
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Lean Conservative |
Local Politics | Varies by County | Mostly Conservative |
Religion | Christian, with a notable non-religious segment | Strongly Christian |
- Iowa tends to lean swing State in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Conservative
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as strongly Christian
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian with a notable non-religious segment
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Arkansas
Comparison | Iowa | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Willowwind School (Iowa City) | Baker Interdistrict Elementary (Little Rock) Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) Vandergriff Elementary (Fayetteville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) | Lisa Academy West Middle (Little Rock) LISA Academy North Middle (Sherwood) McNair Middle School (Fayetteville) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Rogers High School (Rogers) |
Top 3 private high schools | Regina High School (Iowa City) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | The New School (Fayetteville) Subiaco Academy (Subiaco) Arkansas Baptist School System (Little Rock) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Johnston Community School District | Fayetteville Public Schools Bentonville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools |
How Much Do Iowa to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 670 miles from Iowa to Arkansas 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,582 | 300 ft3 | $5.27 |
1 Bedroom | $2,351 | 450 ft3 | $5.22 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,881 | 750 ft3 | $5.17 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,637 | 1100 ft3 | $5.12 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,119 | 1600 ft3 | $5.07 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,044 | 1800 ft3 | $5.02 |
Top Iowa to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Arkansas