Best Des Moines to Houston Movers

How Much Do Des Moines to Houston Movers Cost?

Moving 936 miles from Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX 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.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

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

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

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 28 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Houston areas.

From these 28 companies, we analyzed a total of 8,145 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.

We also reviewed a total of 17 state and federal moving licenses from these 28 companies and 142 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 3,960 Des Moines to Houston 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 Pinpoint Movers) 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 Houston moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.52/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 5,286 reviews

Punctuality

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

7.92/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 1,856 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.37/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 1,051 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.50/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 1,963 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

5.45/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 662 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.68/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 2,418 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.03/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 2,607 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.20/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 5,288 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.27/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 3,022 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

3.71/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 639 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

7.96/10 avg (Des Moines & Houston combined) from 2,631 reviews

From Des Moines to Houston: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• East Village in Des Moines & EaDo in Houston are both known for their urban revitalization & arts scene
• Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood & Houston's The Heights both share historic homes & walkable streets
• If you're moving from Beaverdale, check out Oak Forest in the Houston area for the midcentury houses & tree-lined blocks
• Do you enjoy Village District's eclectic shops & creative vibe? You’re sure to love Montrose
• Move from Drake to Rice Village and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities of a college area with bars & cafes
• South of Grand & Montrose are both known for their artistic community & hip eateries
• Des Moines' Ingersoll Park neighborhood & Houston's Washington Avenue District neighborhood both have a brewery scene & trendy restaurants
• If you're moving from Downtown, look into Downtown Houston for the historic core with nightlife
• Do you cherish living in River Bend's upscale homes near green spaces? Move into River Oaks for something similar

Pros and Cons of Moving from Des Moines to Houston

ConsDes Moines, IA

• Smaller City Feel
• Fewer Job Opportunities
• Colder Winters
• Less Cultural Diversity
• Lesser Dining Variety

ProsHouston, TX

• Larger Metro Area
• More Diverse Economy
• Warmer Climate
• Rich Cultural Mix
• Vast Cuisine Options

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Houston, TX

• Higher Expenses
• Busier Lifestyle
• Traffic Congestion
• Hotter Summers
• Greater Flood Risk

Des Moines, IA

• Lower Cost of Living
• Quiet, Close-Knit
• Easy Navigation
• More Seasons
• Less Natural Disaster Risk

Pros of moving from Des Moines to Houston

• Say goodbye to smaller City Feel and hello to larger Metro Area
• Look forward to moving away from fewer Job Opportunities and moving to Houston with a more Diverse Economy
• Swap the colder Winters of Des Moines for the warmer Climate in Houston
• Get ready for a rich Cultural Mix in Houston

Cons of moving from Des Moines to Houston

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower Cost of Living in Des Moines to live with higher Expenses in Houston
• You'll lose out on the pro of a quiet, Close-Knit community and have to settle for the con of a busier Lifestyle
• Time to bid farewell to easy Navigation and get used to the traffic Congestion in Houston
• Swap more Seasons for hotter Summers

Des Moines vs. Houston: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Des Moines to Houston, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Texas BBQ Brisket of Houston. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Chops and sumptuous Walking Taco, Houston residents know they have tasty Fajitas and Tacos al Pastor to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tex-Mex of Houston. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like Fong's Pizza, Centro, and Zombie Burger. After the boxes are unpacked in Houston, don't wait too long before making your way to Houston's acclaimed eateries like Killen's Barbecue, The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, and UB Preserv.

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

Discover Houston Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Houston 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, Fong's Pizza, and Alba in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love Nancy's Hustle, Frank's Pizza, and Oxheart in Houston. See our Houston 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 Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, head to Hubcap Grill on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Houston

• The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Traditional architecture typical of Houston.
• Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference quiet neighborhoods and proximity to schools, Houston real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and luxury finishes.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Houston is less walkable than Des Moines.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Houston is less bike-friendly than Des Moines.
• Houston has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
• Houston housing costs are 35% more expensive than they are in Des Moines, with a median home price of $269,461 compared to Des Moines's $199,739.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Houston have increased by 43% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
• Rent in Houston is 47.53% more expensive than in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Houston, TX

1. The Heights : You'll love this charming neighborhood with its abundance of dog parks, pet-friendly patios, and walking trails perfect for an outing with your furry friend.
2. Midtown : Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with your pet in tow, thanks to numerous pet-friendly bars, cafes, and well-maintained dog parks right at your doorstep.
3. EaDo (East Downtown) : Here, you and your pet can explore spacious parks, pet-friendly breweries, and community events that often welcome and celebrate pets.

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

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Des Moines to Houston. Houston gets 0% fewer sunshine days than Des Moines.
• Houston has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Des Moines.
• Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and winter storms in Des Moines, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Houston.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Houston is 9 degrees warmer than in Des Moines.
• The average winter lows are 29 degrees warmer than they are in Des Moines.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Houston. Houston receives 14 more inches of rain compared to Des Moines.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Des Moines and Houston

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Houston tend to earn about 9% less than in Des Moines
• The COLI in Houston will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Des Moines
• The state income tax in TX is 0 (Texas has no state income tax) compared to 0.33 to 8.53 in IA
• The affluence in Houston is mixed compared to moderate in Des Moines
• The poverty level is higher in Houston compared to lower in Des Moines
• In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Des Moines and significant in Houston

Political and Religious Climate in Des Moines vs. Houston

• Des Moines tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
• Houston, on the other hand, is often described as diverse, with a Democratic majority in urban areas
• Houston's religious environment can be described as highly diverse, including Christianity, Islam, and others
• Des Moines' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a mix of other faiths

Des Moines vs. Houston Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 50% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Houston compared to your Des Moines commute. That's 5200 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Houston to be worse than it is in Des Moines.
• Public transit is more readily available in Houston.