Iowa to Texas Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 916 mile interstate move from Iowa to Texas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Texas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Brisket), real estate & housing (prairie school, farmhouses vs ranch, colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Texas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Grilled Pork Chops, but get your taste buds ready for Brisket & Barbecue Ribs
- Texas housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Texas is 56.68% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Texas will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Texas movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Iowa to Texas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Texas
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Scattered amenities
- Flat landscape
- High property taxes
- Milder winters
- Thriving job opportunities
- Abundant amenities
- Diverse landscapes
- No state income tax
- Heavy traffic
- Busy lifestyle
- Expansive urban areas
- Drier climate
- Higher living costs
- Low traffic
- Peaceful life
- Close-knit communities
- Lush green parks
- Affordable living
Pros of moving from Iowa to Texas
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Texas with thriving job opportunities
- Swap the scattered amenities of Iowa for abundant amenities in Texas
- Get ready for diverse landscapes in Texas
Cons of moving from Iowa to Texas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from low traffic in Iowa to live with heavy traffic in Texas
- You'll lose out on the pro of a peaceful life and have to settle with the con of a busy lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to expansive urban areas in Texas
- Swap lush green parks for a drier climate
Iowa vs. Texas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Brisket |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pork Chops | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted Vegetables | Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad |
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 Texas, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Brisket of Texas. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Grilled Pork Chops and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Texas residents know they have tasty Barbecue Ribs and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Roasted Vegetables they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad of Texas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Zombie Burger, The Summit, and Amana Colonies Restaurants. After the boxes are unpacked in Texas, don't wait too long before making your way to Texas' acclaimed eateries like Franklin Barbecue, La Milpa Mexican Restaurant, and Biga on the Banks.
When comparing lifestyles, Texas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Texas compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Texas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Texas
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie School, Farmhouses | Ranch, Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Energy efficiency | Swimming pools, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Prairie School and Farmhouses architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Colonial Revival architecture typical of Texas.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and energy efficiency, Texas real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Texas is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Texas is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Texas has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Texas housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $304,027 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Texas have increased 45% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Texas is 56.68% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Texas
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by region, Mostly Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 94Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 14Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 36" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 32" | 1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Texas. Texas gets 15% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Texas 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 hurricanes and tornadoes in Texas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Texas is 12 degrees warmer than Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Texas. Texas receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Texas
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $72,284 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 91.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.33% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.57% | 1.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 8.19% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Energy, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Texas tend to earn about 4% more than in Iowa
- The COLI in Texas will be 5% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- Hooray, moving to TX means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Texas is varied compared to modest in Iowa
- The poverty level is higher in Texas compared to moderate in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Texas
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Texas
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Republican/Democrat (swing state) | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Divided control in state government | Republican control in state government |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a mix of other faiths | Christianity predominant, particularly Evangelical Protestant |
- Iowa tends to lean moderately Republican/Democrat (swing state) in its political climate
- Texas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Texas's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity, particularly Evangelical Protestant
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Texas
Comparison | Iowa | Texas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Texas at Austin Texas A&M University University of Houston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Roosevelt Elementary (Ames) Windsor Elementary (Des Moines) | West University Elementary (Houston) Tanglewood Elementary (Fort Worth) Fern Bluff Elementary (Round Rock) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (Coralville) Ames Middle School (Ames) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Coppell Middle School West (Coppell) Canyon Ridge Middle School (Austin) Beckendorff Junior High (Katy) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Ames High School (Ames) West High School (Iowa City) Waukee High School (Waukee) | Liberal Arts and Science Academy (Austin) School of Science and Engineering (Dallas) Westlake High School (Austin) |
Top 3 private high schools | Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Regina High School (Iowa City) | St. Mark's School of Texas (Dallas) The Hockaday School (Dallas) Kincaid School (Houston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Greenhill School (Addison) St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Austin) Trinity Valley School (Fort Worth) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Waukee Community School District | Eanes Independent School District (Austin) Carroll Independent School District (Southlake) Coppell Independent School District (Coppell) |
How Much Do Iowa to Texas Movers Cost?
Moving 916 miles from Iowa to Texas will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,722 | 300 ft3 | $5.74 |
1 Bedroom | $2,560 | 450 ft3 | $5.69 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,229 | 750 ft3 | $5.64 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,148 | 1100 ft3 | $5.59 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,863 | 1600 ft3 | $5.54 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,881 | 1800 ft3 | $5.49 |
Top Iowa to Texas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Texas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Texas