Iowa to Connecticut Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,168 mile interstate move from Iowa to Connecticut? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Connecticut across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs moderate climates), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Connecticut), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chop (Pork Chop), but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & New Haven-style Pizza
- Connecticut housing costs are 84% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Connecticut is 84.56% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Connecticut will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to Connecticut movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Connecticut Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Connecticut
- Harsh winters
- Limited job opportunities
- Lack of coastline
- Fewer cultural events
- Moderate climates
- Vibrant job market
- Beautiful beaches
- Diverse cultural scene
- Higher expenses
- More transient populations
- Limited open spaces
- Denser traffic
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Easy outdoor access
- Less traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Iowa to Connecticut
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to moderate climates
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Connecticut with a vibrant job market
- Swap the lack of coastline in Iowa for beautiful beaches in Connecticut
- Get ready for a diverse cultural scene in Connecticut
Cons of moving from Iowa to Connecticut
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Iowa to live with higher expenses in Connecticut
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle for the con of more transient populations
- Time to bid farewell to easy outdoor access and get used to limited open spaces in Connecticut
- Swap less traffic congestion for denser traffic
Iowa vs. Connecticut: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chop (Pork Chop) | New Haven-style Pizza |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Steamed Cheeseburgers |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Scramble | Seitan Wings |
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 Connecticut, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Connecticut. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork Chop) and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Connecticut residents know they have tasty New Haven-style Pizza and Steamed Cheeseburgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Wings of Connecticut. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Iowa Stater, Zombie Burger, and The Machine Shed. After the boxes are unpacked in Connecticut, don't wait too long before making your way to Connecticut's acclaimed eateries like Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Ted's Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Connecticut shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Connecticut compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Connecticut.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Connecticut
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to schools, historic charm |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Connecticut.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Connecticut real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to schools and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Connecticut is more walkable than Iowa.
- Connecticut is similarly bike-friendly to Iowa.
- Connecticut has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Connecticut housing costs are 84% more expensive than they are in Iowa with a median home price of $393,802 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Connecticut have increased by 55% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Connecticut is 84.56% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Connecticut
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
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, Severe Storms | Winter Storms, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 83/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 35/18 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 35 | 40 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Iowa to Connecticut. Connecticut gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Iowa.
- Connecticut has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential winter storms and hurricanes in Connecticut.
- The average summer high temperature in Connecticut is 2 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Connecticut. Connecticut receives 14 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Connecticut
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $88,429 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 122.1 |
State Income Tax | 8.53% | 6.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 2.14% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.35% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Finance, Insurance, Real Estate |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Connecticut tend to earn about 27% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Connecticut will be 27% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in CT is 6.99% compared to 8.53% in IA
- The affluence in Connecticut is high compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is low in Connecticut compared to moderate in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Connecticut
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Connecticut
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, leanings can vary significantly by region | Lean more Democratic |
Local Politics | Varied; influenced by rural vs. urban settings | Diverse but with a strong Democratic presence in cities |
Religion | Protestant, Catholic | Catholic, with a mix of other faiths |
- Iowa tends to lean mixed, with leanings that can vary significantly by region in its political climate
- Connecticut, on the other hand, is often described as leaning more Democratic
- Connecticut's religious environment can be described as Catholic, with a mix of other faiths
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Connecticut
Comparison | Iowa | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Connecticut Yale University Quinnipiac University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Garner Elementary (North Liberty) Lincoln Elementary (Pella) | International School at Dundee (Greenwich) North Mianus School (Greenwich) Riverside School (Greenwich) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Eastern Middle School (Greenwich) Middlesex Middle School (Darien) Saxe Middle School (New Canaan) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Liberty High School (North Liberty) | Staples High School (Westport) Greenwich High School (Greenwich) Darien High School (Darien) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Exeter) The Blake School (Minneapolis) Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) | Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville) The Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Kingswood Oxford School (West Hartford) The Hopkins School (New Haven) The Canterbury School (New Milford) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Decorah Community Schools | Westport School District Greenwich School District New Canaan School District |
How Much Do Iowa to Connecticut Movers Cost?
Moving 1,168 miles from Iowa to Connecticut will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,865 | 300 ft3 | $6.22 |
1 Bedroom | $2,774 | 450 ft3 | $6.17 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,587 | 750 ft3 | $6.12 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,672 | 1100 ft3 | $6.07 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,625 | 1600 ft3 | $6.02 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,738 | 1800 ft3 | $5.97 |
Top Iowa to Connecticut Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Connecticut movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Connecticut