Idaho to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,411 mile interstate move from Idaho to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Idaho vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long cold winters vs milder winter climates), food & health (like Idaho Potatoes vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (craftsman and ranch vs prairie and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Idaho), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Idaho Potatoes and Idaho Trout, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in Idaho
- Rent in Iowa is 33.11% more affordable than in Idaho
- Moving from Idaho to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Idaho to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Idaho to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Idaho to Iowa
- Long cold winters
- Limited job opportunities
- Remote rural areas
- High living cost
- Low population diversity
- Milder winter climates
- Diverse job market
- Accessible urban centers
- Affordable housing
- Greater cultural diversity
- Fewer scenic mountains
- Potential for flooding
- Higher state taxes
- More tornadoes
- Less urban nightlife
- Outdoor recreation
- Low traffic congestion
- Strong local economy
- Agricultural bounty
- Community spirit
Pros of moving from Idaho to Iowa
- Say goodbye to long cold winters and hello to milder winter climates
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Iowa with a diverse job market
- Swap the remote rural areas of Idaho for accessible urban centers in Iowa
- Get ready for affordable housing in Iowa
Cons of moving from Idaho to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from outdoor recreation in Idaho to live with fewer scenic mountains in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of low traffic congestion and have to settle for the con of potential flooding
- Time to bid farewell to a strong local economy and get used to higher state taxes in Iowa
- Swap agricultural bounty for more tornadoes
Idaho vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Idaho Potatoes | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Idaho Trout | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Finger Steaks | Sweet Corn Tamale |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Vegetable Pakora |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Idaho to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Idaho Potatoes of Idaho for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in Idaho rave about their flavorful Idaho Trout and sumptuous Finger Steaks, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Sweet Corn Tamale 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 Vegetable Pakora of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Idaho eateries like Boise Fry Company, Duck Duck Goose, and The Chocolat Bar. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like American Grill, The Flying Mango, and The Waveland Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Idaho. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Iowa, compared to what you are used to in Idaho. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Idaho and Iowa
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman and Ranch | Prairie and Ranch |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, mountain views | Energy efficiency, community amenities |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Idaho is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Idaho's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and mountain views, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and community amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Iowa is more walkable than Idaho.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than Idaho.
- Iowa has more of an urban feel than Idaho.
- Iowa housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in Idaho, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Idaho’s $451,298.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 69% increase in Idaho.
- Rent in Iowa is 33.11% more affordable than in Idaho.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Idaho and Iowa
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Wildfires, Earthquakes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 40°F | 85°F / 63°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 34°F / 16°F | 31°F / 14°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 18 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60 | 48 |
- Iowa gets an equal number of sunshine days as Idaho.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Idaho.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is the same degrees as Idaho.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Idaho.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Iowa, as Iowa receives 18 more inches of rain compared to Idaho.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Idaho and Iowa
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,785 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.5 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 6.93 | 8.50 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.69 | 1.50 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00 | 6.94 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Technology, Manufacturing | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 4% less than in Idaho
- The COLI in Iowa will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Idaho
- The state income tax in Iowa is 8.50 compared to 6.93 in Idaho
- The affluence in Iowa is moderate compared to moderate in Idaho
- The poverty level is low in Iowa compared to low in Idaho
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Idaho and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Idaho vs. Iowa
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Swing state, leans conservative |
Local Politics | Significant Republican influence | Mixed, with notable Democratic presence in urban areas |
Religion | Majority Christian, significant Latter-day Saints population | Majority Christian, diverse denominations |
- Idaho tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that leans conservative
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as a majority Christian with diverse denominations
- Idaho's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a majority Christian with a significant Latter-day Saints population
Education Guide When Moving from Idaho to Iowa
Comparison | Idaho | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Longfellow Elementary School (Boise) Adams Elementary School (Boise) Washington Elementary School (Boise) | Wickham Elementary School (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary School (Mount Vernon) Willowwind School (Iowa City) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Junior High School (Boise) East Junior High School (Boise) Les Bois Junior High School (Boise) | North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High School (Iowa City) Ames Middle School (Ames) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Boise High School (Boise) Timberline High School (Boise) Borah High School (Boise) | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) Sun Valley Community School (Sun Valley) | Regina High School (Iowa City) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Ambrose School (Meridian) Riverstone International School (Boise) North Idaho Christian School (Hayden) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 School Districts | Boise School District Blaine County School District Coeur d'Alene School District | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community School District |
How Much Do Idaho to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,411 miles from Idaho to Iowa 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: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,002 | 300 ft3 | $6.67 |
1 Bedroom | $2,981 | 450 ft3 | $6.62 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,931 | 750 ft3 | $6.57 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,177 | 1100 ft3 | $6.52 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,360 | 1600 ft3 | $6.47 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,565 | 1800 ft3 | $6.42 |
Top Idaho to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Idaho to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.