Best Des Moines to Durham Movers

How Much Do Des Moines to Durham Movers Cost?

Moving 1,074 miles from Des Moines, IA to Durham, NC 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.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Durham that already have a booked job heading from Durham to Des Moines. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Durham from Des Moines entirely empty. If you can find a Durham moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Des Moines to Durham moving option

Hire local Des Moines movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Durham movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Des Moines to Durham move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Des Moines to Durham movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Des Moines, IA to Durham, NC long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Des Moines to Durham moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 27 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Durham areas.

From these 27 companies, we analyzed a total of 8,128 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.

We also reviewed a total of 12 state and federal moving licenses from these 27 companies and 133 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~8,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 3,603 Des Moines to Durham moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Athens Moving Experts) vs older more established companies (like Hemmen Moving).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Des Moines to Durham moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

9.15/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 5,246 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.74/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 1,699 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.38/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 926 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.52/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 1,849 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.42/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 625 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.22/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 2,033 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.44/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 3,111 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.97/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 5,274 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

9.02/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 3,398 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.32/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 426 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.85/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 2,774 reviews

From Des Moines to Durham: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• East Village in Des Moines & Downtown Durham in Durham are both known for their urban core with boutiques & nightlife
• Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood & Durham's Trinity Park both share a historic district with Victorian homes
• If you're moving from Beaverdale, check out Hope Valley in the Durham area for a family-friendly suburban feel
• Do you enjoy Drake's college-town vibe with local eateries? You're sure to love Duke Park
• Move from Ingersoll Park to Ninth Street District and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: an artsy neighborhood with boutiques
• North Grand & Northgate Park are both known for their emerging area with local businesses
• Des Moines' McKinley neighborhood & Durham's Watts-Hillandale neighborhood both have quiet streets near parks
• If you're moving from Woodland Heights, look into Forestwood for a residential area with newer homes
• Do you cherish living in Capitol East's diverse community with artistic initiatives? Move into Walltown for something similar
• The similar vibes of River Bend & Forest Hills are both known for scenic riverside with tree-lined streets

Pros and Cons of Moving from Des Moines to Durham

ConsDes Moines, IA

• Smaller City
• Harsher Winters
• Less Job Diversity
• Fewer Dining Options
• Lesser Known Universities

ProsDurham, NC

• Greater Cultural Diversity
• Milder Climate
• Thriving Job Market
• Rich Food Scene
• Prestigious Academic Institutions

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Durham, NC

• Higher Cost of Living
• More Traffic
• Can Feel Crowded
• Fewer Parks per Capita
• Seasonal Allergies More Common

Des Moines, IA

• Low Cost of Living
• Friendly Small-Town Feel
• Easy Navigation
• Abundance of Green Spaces
• Less Severe Allergies

Pros of moving from Des Moines to Durham

• Say goodbye to smaller City and hello to greater Cultural Diversity
• Look forward to moving away from harsher Winters and moving to Durham with a milder Climate
• Swap the less Job Diversity of Des Moines for a thriving Job Market in Durham
• Get ready for a rich Food Scene in Durham

Cons of moving from Des Moines to Durham

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low Cost of Living in Des Moines to live with a higher Cost of Living in Durham
• You'll lose out on the pro of a friendly Small-Town Feel and have to settle with the con of more Traffic
• Time to bid farewell to easy Navigation and get used to it Can Feel Crowded in Durham
• Swap an abundance of Green Spaces for fewer Parks per Capita

Des Moines vs. Durham: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Des Moines to Durham, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Carolina-Style BBQ of Durham. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork) and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Durham residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Food Trucks (various cuisines) to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Caesar Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Barbecue of Durham. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like 801 Chophouse, Fong's Pizza, and Zombie Burger. After the boxes are unpacked in Durham, don't wait too long before making your way to Durham's acclaimed eateries like Nana's Restaurant, Dame's Chicken and Waffles, and Pizzeria Toro.

When comparing lifestyles, Durham shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Des Moines. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Durham compared to what you are used to in Des Moines. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Durham.

Discover Durham Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Durham is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Des Moines favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, A Dong, and Fong’s Pizza in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love Burger Bach, M Sushi, and Pizzeria Toro in Durham. See our Durham restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Des Moines hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Django Restaurant, head to Mateo Bar de Tapas on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Durham

• The Craftsman architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Durham.
• Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly neighborhoods, Durham real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to tech hubs and a vibrant arts scene.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Durham is more walkable than Des Moines.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Durham is more bike-friendly than Des Moines.
• Durham has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
• Durham housing costs are 103% more expensive than they are in Des Moines, with a median home price of $404,856 compared to Des Moines’s $199,739.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Durham have increased by 64% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
• Rent in Durham is 59.65% more expensive than in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Durham, NC

1. Trinity Park : You'll love the abundance of leafy streets and spacious sidewalks, making it perfect for scenic dog walks.
2. Old West Durham : This neighborhood offers numerous parks and outdoor spaces where you and your pets can enjoy playtime.
3. Southpoint : With its proximity to the American Tobacco Trail, you have easy access to miles of pet-friendly trails for walking and jogging.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Des Moines and Durham

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Des Moines to Durham. Durham gets 4% more sunshine days than Des Moines.
• Durham has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Des Moines.
• Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and blizzards in Des Moines, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and ice storms in Durham.
• The average summer high temperature in Durham is 3 degrees warmer than that in Des Moines.
• The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Des Moines.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Durham. Durham receives 11 more inches of rain compared to Des Moines.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Des Moines and Durham

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Durham tend to earn about 18% more than those in Des Moines
• The COLI in Durham is 6% higher than what you are used to living in Des Moines
• The state income tax in NC is a flat 5.25% compared to up to 8.53% in IA
• The affluence in Durham is moderate to high compared to moderate in Des Moines
• The poverty level is comparable in Durham compared to lower in Des Moines
• In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Des Moines and low to moderate in Durham

Political and Religious Climate in Des Moines vs. Durham

• Des Moines tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
• Durham, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
• Durham's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant presence of historically Black churches and other faiths
• Des Moines' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a strong Protestant presence

Des Moines vs. Durham Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 10% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Durham compared to your Des Moines commute. That's 1040 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Durham to be worse than it is in Des Moines.
• Public transit is more readily available in Durham.