Iowa to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,107 mile interstate move from Iowa to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job diversity vs numerous career opportunities), food & health (like Corn vs Bagels), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs colonial, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn and Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & Pastrami on Rye
- New York housing costs are 115% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in New York is 131.24% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to New York will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Iowa to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to New York
- Limited job diversity
- Rural isolation
- Less entertainment options
- Harsh winters
- Limited public transit
- Numerous career opportunities
- Vibrant social scene
- Abundant cultural attractions
- Milder winters
- Extensive transit systems
- High living expenses
- Anonymous urban life
- Heavy traffic
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Smaller living spaces
- Lower cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Less congestion
- Relaxed pace
- Spacious living areas
Pros of moving from Iowa to New York
- Say goodbye to limited job diversity and hello to numerous career opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to New York with a vibrant social scene
- Swap the fewer entertainment options of Iowa for abundant cultural attractions in New York
- Get ready for milder winters in New York
Cons of moving from Iowa to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Iowa to live with high living expenses in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle for the con of anonymous urban life
- Time to bid farewell to less congestion and get used to heavy traffic in New York
- Swap a relaxed pace for a fast-paced lifestyle
Iowa vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn | Bagels |
Most popular meat dish | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Pastrami on Rye |
Most popular street food item | Fried Sweet Corn | Pizza Slices |
Most popular vegan food | Buddha Bowls | Vegan Bagels |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 York, you will be trading the iconic Corn of Iowa for the equally delicious Bagels of New York. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and sumptuous Fried Sweet Corn, New York residents know they have tasty Pastrami on Rye and Pizza Slices to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Buddha Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Bagels of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Machine Shed, Zombie Burger, and La Mie Bakery. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and Sylvia's Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and New York
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Colonial, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Attached garages | Proximity to public transit, Views |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Modern architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and attached garages, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transit and views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- New York housing costs are 115% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in New York is 131.24% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and New York
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 82/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 39/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 36 | 25-75 (varies widely across the state) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to New York. New York gets 10% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- New York 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 blizzards and hurricanes in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and New York
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 8.53% | 8.82% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 1.4% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 8.875% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Finance, Healthcare, Media |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rare | Frequent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 14% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in New York will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in NY is 8.82% compared to 8.53% in IA
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is rare in Iowa and frequent in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. New York
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderate, with both Republican and Democratic representation | Lean Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Local governance often emphasizes community and agricultural policies | Local governance is highly diverse, with emphasis on urban issues in cities and rural concerns upstate |
Religion | Christianity dominates, with a strong Protestant presence | Religiously diverse, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and others |
- Iowa tends to lean moderate, with both Republican and Democratic representation in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in urban areas
- New York's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and others
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as dominated by Christianity, with a strong Protestant presence
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to New York
Comparison | Iowa | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | New York University Cornell University Columbia University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Roosevelt Elementary (Mason City) Lincoln Elementary (Pella) | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) Anderson School PS 334 (New York City) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Bettendorf Middle School (Bettendorf) | Eagle Hill School (Greenwich) Middle School 54 Booker T. Washington (New York City) I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Andover) The Putney School (Putney) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York City) Dalton School (New York City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Collegiate School (New York City) Horace Mann School (Bronx) The Spence School (New York City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools | Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District |
How Much Do Iowa to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 1,107 miles from Iowa to New York 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.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,830 | 300 ft3 | $6.10 |
1 Bedroom | $2,723 | 450 ft3 | $6.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,500 | 750 ft3 | $6.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,545 | 1100 ft3 | $5.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,440 | 1600 ft3 | $5.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,530 | 1800 ft3 | $5.85 |
Top Iowa to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.