Best Des Moines to Lincoln Movers

How Much Do Des Moines to Lincoln Movers Cost?

Moving 191 miles from Des Moines, IA to Lincoln, NE will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 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 Lincoln that already have a booked job heading from Lincoln to Des Moines. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Lincoln from Des Moines entirely empty. If you can find a Lincoln moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Des Moines to Lincoln 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 Lincoln movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Des Moines to Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln, NE long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 13 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Lincoln areas.

From these 13 companies, we analyzed a total of 4,411 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.

We also reviewed a total of 3 state and federal moving licenses from these 13 companies and 70 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~4,000 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 1,493 Des Moines to Lincoln 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 King's Moving) 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 Lincoln moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.91/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 1,721 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.47/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 459 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.91/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 272 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.94/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 540 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.38/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 158 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.94/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 710 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.38/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 1,078 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.69/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 1,690 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.79/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 979 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.66/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 140 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.43/10 avg (Des Moines & Lincoln combined) from 822 reviews

From Des Moines to Lincoln: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• East Village in Des Moines & Historic Haymarket in Lincoln are both known for their downtown arts & nightlife
• Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood & Lincoln's University Place both share historic homes & tree-lined streets
• If you're moving from Beaverdale, check out Sun Valley in the Lincoln area for family-friendly living with midcentury homes
• Do you enjoy Drake's student-centered atmosphere near campus? You're sure to love College View
• Move from Ingersoll Park to Downtown and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: bars, breweries & nightlife
• Woodland Heights & Near South are both known for their quiet, established & close-in living
• Des Moines' Capitol East neighborhood & Lincoln's Irvingdale neighborhood both have up-and-coming local eateries
• If you're moving from River Bend, look into South Bottoms for riverfront parks & trails
• Do you cherish living in Waveland Park's wooded green spaces & paths? Move into Hartley for something similar
• The similar vibes of Oak Park & Country Club are both known for their upscale living with golf & green space

Pros and Cons of Moving from Des Moines to Lincoln

ConsDes Moines, IA

• Smaller city vibe
• Fewer job opportunities
• Less cultural diversity
• Higher cost of living
• Shorter restaurant scene

ProsLincoln, NE

• Larger community
• More career options
• Greater diversity
• More affordable
• Richer food culture

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Lincoln, NE

• Less personal
• More traffic
• Fewer shopping options
• Potentially higher crime
• Smaller art scene

Des Moines, IA

• Close-knit community
• Easy city navigation
• Quaint local shops
• Lower crime rates
• Vibrant local arts

Pros of moving from Des Moines to Lincoln

• Say goodbye to the smaller city vibe and hello to the larger community
• Look forward to moving away from fewer job opportunities and moving to Lincoln with more career options
• Swap the less cultural diversity of Des Moines for greater diversity in Lincoln
• Get ready for more affordability in Lincoln

Cons of moving from Des Moines to Lincoln

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the close-knit community in Des Moines to live with less personal space in Lincoln
• You'll lose out on the pro of easy city navigation and have to settle for the con of more traffic
• Time to bid farewell to quaint local shops and get used to fewer shopping options in Lincoln
• Swap lower crime rates for potentially higher crime rates

Des Moines vs. Lincoln: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Des Moines to Lincoln, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Runza of Lincoln. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Lincoln residents know they have tasty Grilled Steak and Food Trucks Variety to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Lincoln. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like Fong's Pizza, Zombie Burger, and 801 Chophouse. After the boxes are unpacked in Lincoln, don't wait too long before making your way to Lincoln's acclaimed eateries like Misty's Steakhouse, Leadbelly, and The Coffee Roaster.

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

Discover Lincoln Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Lincoln 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 Centro, Alba, and Django in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love The Oven, Sebastian's Table, and Blue Sushi Sake Grill in Lincoln. See our Lincoln 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 Fong’s Pizza, head to Yia Yia's on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Lincoln

• The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Modern architecture typical of Lincoln.
• Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and hardwood floors, Lincoln real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and proximity to parks.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Lincoln is more walkable than Des Moines.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Lincoln is more bike-friendly than Des Moines.
• Lincoln has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
• Lincoln housing costs are 38% more expensive than in Des Moines, with a median home price of $276,124 compared to Des Moines’s $199,739.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Lincoln have increased by 43% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
• Rent in Lincoln is 21.25% more expensive than in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Lincoln, NE

1. Air Park : You'll find plenty of green spaces and parks, making it ideal for long walks with your furry friend.
2. Country Club : With its tree-lined streets and nearby dog-friendly amenities, your pet will love exploring this neighborhood.
3. South Salt Creek : This area boasts easy access to dog parks and trails, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities with your pet.

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

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Des Moines to Lincoln. Lincoln gets 4% more sunshine days than Des Moines.
• Lincoln has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Des Moines.
• Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Des Moines but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Lincoln.
• The average summer high temperature in Lincoln is 3 degrees warmer than in Des Moines.
• The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Des Moines.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Lincoln. Lincoln receives 6.7 fewer inches of rain compared to Des Moines.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Des Moines and Lincoln

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Lincoln tend to earn about 3% more than in Des Moines
• The COLI in Lincoln is 0% lower than what you are used to living in Des Moines
• The state income tax in NE is 2.46 - 6.84 compared to 0.33 - 8.53 in IA
• The affluence in Lincoln is moderate to high compared to moderate in Des Moines
• The poverty level is minimal to moderate in Lincoln compared to minimal in Des Moines
• In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Des Moines and low to moderate in Lincoln

Political and Religious Climate in Des Moines vs. Lincoln

• Des Moines tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
• Lincoln, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
• Lincoln's religious environment can be described as mixed, with a significant Christian community
• Des Moines' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Christian community

Des Moines vs. Lincoln Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 10% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Lincoln compared to your daily drive in Des Moines. That's an annual savings of 1,040 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Lincoln to be better than it is in Des Moines.
• Public transit is less readily available in Lincoln.