Iowa to Vermont Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,256 mile interstate move from Iowa to Vermont? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Vermont across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder summers), food & health (like Corn vs Maple Syrup), real estate & housing (prairie school, farmhouse vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Vermont), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn and Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Maple Syrup & Maple Glazed Ham
- Vermont housing costs are 78% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Vermont is 90.37% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Vermont will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Vermont movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Vermont Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Vermont
- Harsh winters
- Flat landscapes
- Limited outdoor activities
- Less artisanal cuisine
- Milder summers
- Scenic mountains
- Vibrant outdoor scene
- Culinary delights
- Higher expenses
- Dense population
- Pricey real estate
- Heavier traffic
- Lower cost of living
- Spacious landscapes
- Affordable housing
- Low traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Iowa to Vermont
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Vermont with scenic mountains
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Iowa for a vibrant outdoor scene in Vermont
- Get ready for culinary delights in Vermont
Cons of moving from Iowa to Vermont
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Iowa to live with higher expenses in Vermont
- You'll lose out on the pro of spacious landscapes and have to settle for the con of dense population
- Time to bid farewell to affordable housing and get used to pricey real estate in Vermont
- Swap low traffic congestion for heavier traffic
Iowa vs. Vermont: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn | Maple Syrup |
Most popular meat dish | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Maple Glazed Ham |
Most popular street food item | Walking Tacos | Maple Creamies |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled Sweet Corn | Apple Cider Donuts (vegan options) |
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 Vermont, you will be trading the iconic corn of Iowa for the equally delicious maple syrup of Vermont. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful pork tenderloin sandwich and sumptuous walking tacos, Vermont residents know they have tasty maple glazed ham and maple creamies to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the grilled sweet corn they've grown to love, they can get ready for the apple cider donuts (vegan options) of Vermont. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Big House, Fong's Pizza, and Zombie Burger. After the boxes are unpacked in Vermont, don't wait too long before making your way to Vermont's acclaimed eateries like Hen of the Wood, The Alchemist Brewery, and Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge.
When comparing lifestyles, Vermont shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Vermont compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Vermont.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Vermont
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie School, Farmhouse | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, barns | Energy efficiency, scenic views |
- The Prairie School and Farmhouse architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Vermont.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and barns, Vermont real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and scenic views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Vermont is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Vermont is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Vermont has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Vermont housing costs are 78% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $381,042 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Vermont have increased by 50% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Vermont is 90.37% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Vermont
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
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, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β° / 63Β° | 80Β° / 59Β° |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β° / 14Β° | 27Β° / 10Β° |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 89 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Iowa to Vermont. Vermont gets 23% fewer sunshine days than Iowa.
- Vermont has higher 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 blizzards and floods in Vermont.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Vermont is 5 degrees colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Vermont. Vermont receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Vermont
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $73,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 120.5 |
State Income Tax | 8.53 | 8.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53 | 1.82 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94 | 6.24 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Tourism, Agriculture, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderately high |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Minimal | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Vermont tend to earn about 6% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Vermont is 26% higher than what you are used to in Iowa
- The state income tax in VT is 8.75 compared to 8.53 in IA
- The affluence in Vermont is moderately high compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is low in Vermont compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Iowa and minimal in Vermont
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Vermont
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Liberal/Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies widely between urban and rural areas | Progressive tendencies, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a significant mix of other faiths | Less religiously affiliated, with strong pockets of non-religious and various faith communities |
- Iowa tends to lean swing State in its political climate
- Vermont, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
- Vermont's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with strong pockets of non-religious and various faith communities
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates with a significant mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Vermont
Comparison | Iowa | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Vermont Middlebury College Champlain College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Roosevelt Elementary (Cedar Rapids) Grant Wood Elementary (Iowa City) | Shelburne Community School (Shelburne) Orchard School (South Burlington) Champlain Elementary (Burlington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (Coralville) South East Junior High (Iowa City) Ames Middle School (Ames) | Shelburne Community School (Shelburne) Camels Hump Middle School (Richmond) Essex Middle School (Essex) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) | Burlington High School (Burlington) Champlain Valley Union High (Hinesburg) Middlebury Union High (Middlebury) |
Top 3 private high schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) | The Putney School (Putney) Burr and Burton Academy (Manchester) Vermont Academy (Saxtons River) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | The Putney School (Putney) Vermont Academy (Saxtons River) St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community School District | Champlain Valley School District South Burlington School District Essex Westford School District |
How Much Do Iowa to Vermont Movers Cost?
Moving 1,256 miles from Iowa to Vermont 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,915 | 300 ft3 | $6.38 |
1 Bedroom | $2,849 | 450 ft3 | $6.33 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,711 | 750 ft3 | $6.28 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,855 | 1100 ft3 | $6.23 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,891 | 1600 ft3 | $6.18 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,037 | 1800 ft3 | $6.13 |
Top Iowa to Vermont Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Vermont movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Vermont