Iowa to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 1,258 mile interstate move from Iowa to New Hampshire? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs New Hampshire across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe thunderstorms vs milder weather), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Apple Cider Donuts), real estate & housing (ranch, farmhouse vs colonial, cottage), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chops, but get your taste buds ready for Apple Cider Donuts & New England Boiled Dinner
- New Hampshire housing costs are 118% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in New Hampshire is 82.11% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to New Hampshire will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to New Hampshire movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to New Hampshire
- Severe thunderstorms
- Flood Risk
- Flat landscape
- Limited cultural events
- Milder weather
- Coastal beauty
- Scenic mountains
- Vibrant culture
- Higher cost of living
- Busier lifestyle
- Fewer farming opportunities
- Less familiar faces
- Affordable living
- Quiet pace
- Agricultural jobs
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from Iowa to New Hampshire
- Say goodbye to severe thunderstorms and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from flood risk and moving to New Hampshire with coastal beauty
- Swap the flat landscape of Iowa for scenic mountains in New Hampshire
- Get ready for vibrant culture in New Hampshire
Cons of moving from Iowa to New Hampshire
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Iowa to live with a higher cost of living in New Hampshire
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quiet pace and have to settle with the con of a busier lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to agricultural jobs and get used to fewer farming opportunities in New Hampshire
- Swap friendly communities for less familiar faces
Iowa vs. New Hampshire: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Apple Cider Donuts |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chops | New England Boiled Dinner |
Most popular street food item | Corn Dogs | Fried Seafood |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Maple Roasted Vegetables |
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 New Hampshire, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Apple Cider Donuts of New Hampshire. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chops and sumptuous Corn Dogs, New Hampshire residents know they have tasty New England Boiled Dinner and Fried Seafood to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Maple Roasted Vegetables of New Hampshire. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The High Life Lounge, Jethroβs BBQ, and Ox Yoke Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in New Hampshire, don't wait too long before making your way to New Hampshire's acclaimed eateries like Moxy, The Friendly Toast, and Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery.
When comparing lifestyles, New Hampshire shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Hampshire, compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Hampshire.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and New Hampshire
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Farmhouse | Colonial, Cottage |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, garages | Proximity to nature, energy efficiency |
- The Ranch and Farmhouse architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of New Hampshire.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and garages, New Hampshire real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Hampshire is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Hampshire is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- New Hampshire has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- New Hampshire housing costs are 118% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $465,926 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Hampshire have increased by 68% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in New Hampshire is 82.11% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and New Hampshire
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/63Β°F | 80Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F/14Β°F | 34Β°F/17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 34" | 60" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Iowa to New Hampshire. New Hampshire gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Iowa.
- New Hampshire has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Hampshire is 5 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and New Hampshire
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $89,992 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 116.8 |
State Income Tax | 8.53% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 2.2% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Hampshire tend to earn about 29% more than in Iowa
- The COLI in New Hampshire will be 22% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- Hooray, moving to NH means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in New Hampshire is higher compared to moderate affluence in Iowa
- The poverty level is lower in New Hampshire compared to moderate poverty in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and very low in New Hampshire
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. New Hampshire
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground state with a mix of Democratic and Republican | Swing state, leaning slightly more Republican in recent elections |
Local Politics | Focus on agriculture, education, and biofuels | Emphasis on small government and low taxes |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant Catholic community | Less religiously affiliated, with a small but notable Catholic presence |
- Iowa tends to lean battleground state with a mix of Democratic and Republican in its political climate
- New Hampshire, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, leaning slightly more Republican in recent elections
- New Hampshire's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated, with a small but notable Catholic presence
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a significant Catholic community
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to New Hampshire
Comparison | Iowa | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Grant Ragan Elementary (Waukee) Shimek Elementary School (Iowa City) | Main Dunstable Elementary (Nashua) Hollis Primary School (Hollis) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) Ames Middle School (Ames) | Rye Junior High School (Rye) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Amherst Middle School (Amherst) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Waukee High School (Waukee) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) Bedford High School (Bedford) |
Top 3 private high schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) Maharishi School (Fairfield) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Waukee Community School District Ames Community School District | SAU 16 (Exeter) Bedford School District Londonderry School District |
How Much Do Iowa to New Hampshire Movers Cost?
Moving 1,258 miles from Iowa to New Hampshire will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,916 | 300 ft3 | $6.39 |
1 Bedroom | $2,851 | 450 ft3 | $6.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,714 | 750 ft3 | $6.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,859 | 1100 ft3 | $6.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,897 | 1600 ft3 | $6.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,044 | 1800 ft3 | $6.14 |
Top Iowa to New Hampshire Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to New Hampshire movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to New Hampshire