Iowa to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 465 mile interstate move from Iowa to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs ranch style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chops, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Smoked Brisket
- Kansas housing costs are 5% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Kansas is 1.54% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Kansas movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Kansas
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Frequent flooding
- Milder winters
- Growing job opportunities
- Less flooding
- Flat landscapes
- Transient populations
- Less scenic farms
- Beautiful countryside
- Close-knit communities
- Rich agricultural heritage
Pros of moving from Iowa to Kansas
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Kansas with growing job opportunities
- Swap the frequent flooding of Iowa for less flooding in Kansas
Cons of moving from Iowa to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful countryside in Iowa to live with flat landscapes in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle for the con of transient populations
- Time to bid farewell to a rich agricultural heritage and get used to less scenic farms in Kansas
Iowa vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chops | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Burnt Ends |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Jackfruit BBQ |
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 Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Kansas. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chops and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Kansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Burnt Ends to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Jethroβs BBQ, The Ronneburg Restaurant, and Zombie Burger + Drink Lab. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Kansas
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Ranch Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, family-friendly | Energy efficiency, modern amenities |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Ranch Style architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly features, Kansas real estate listings often highlight energy efficiency and modern amenities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kansas is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kansas is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Kansas has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Kansas housing costs are 5% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Kansas is 1.54% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Kansas
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
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, severe storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83/63 | 90/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 39/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34 | 28 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 19 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Kansas. Kansas gets 13% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Kansas has lower 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 severe storms in Kansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 7 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Kansas
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.5% | 1.3% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.9% | 8.6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Health Services | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 1% less than in Iowa
- The COLI in Kansas is 4% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in Kansas is 5.7% compared to 6.5% in Iowa
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is low in Kansas compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and low in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Kansas
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Moderate with both parties represented | Conservative, but with some liberal urban areas |
Religion | Christian, predominantly Protestant | Christian, with a larger Evangelical presence |
- Iowa tends to lean swing state in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as Christian with a larger Evangelical presence
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian, predominantly Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Kansas
Comparison | Iowa | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Shimek Elementary School (Iowa City) Brookview Elementary School (West Des Moines) | Corinth Elementary School (Leawood) Meadow Lane Elementary School (Leawood) Lakewood Elementary School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (Coralville) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Prairie Star Middle School (Leawood) Lakewood Middle School (Overland Park) Harmony Middle School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Roosevelt High School (Des Moines) | Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park) Blue Valley High School (Stilwell) Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 private high schools | Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Bishop Heelan Catholic High School (Sioux City) | Maur Hill-Mount Academy (Atchison) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | The Independent School (Wichita) Topeka Collegiate School (Topeka) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Waukee Community School District | Blue Valley School District (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission School District (Shawnee Mission) Olathe Public Schools (Olathe) |
How Much Do Iowa to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 465 miles from Iowa to Kansas will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,466 | 300 ft3 | $4.89 |
1 Bedroom | $2,177 | 450 ft3 | $4.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,590 | 750 ft3 | $4.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,211 | 1100 ft3 | $4.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,499 | 1600 ft3 | $4.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,347 | 1800 ft3 | $4.64 |
Top Iowa to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.