Illinois to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 1,083 mile interstate move from Illinois to New Hampshire? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs New Hampshire across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high taxes vs lower taxes), food & health (like Chicago-style deep dish pizza vs New England clam chowder), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs colonial and cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chicago-style deep dish pizza and Italian Beef Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for New England clam chowder & Boiled Dinner (Corned Beef)
- New Hampshire housing costs are 81% more expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in New Hampshire is 12.39% more expensive than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to New Hampshire will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Illinois to New Hampshire movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to New Hampshire
- High taxes
- City congestion
- Harsh winters
- Costly living expenses
- Lower taxes
- Less traffic
- Less severe winters
- Affordability
- Limited urban amenities
- Fewer job opportunities
- Few cultural institutions
- Less sports culture
- Rich culture
- Diverse job market
- World-class museums
- Sporting events
Pros of moving from Illinois to New Hampshire
- Say goodbye to high taxes and hello to lower taxes
- Look forward to moving away from city congestion and moving to New Hampshire with less traffic
- Swap the harsh winters of Illinois for less severe winters in New Hampshire
- Get ready for affordability in New Hampshire
Cons of moving from Illinois to New Hampshire
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich culture in Illinois to live with limited urban amenities in New Hampshire
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse job market and have to settle for the con of fewer job opportunities
- Time to bid farewell to world-class museums and get used to few cultural institutions in New Hampshire
- Swap sporting events for a less vibrant sports culture
Illinois vs. New Hampshire: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chicago-style deep dish pizza | New England clam chowder |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef Sandwich | Boiled Dinner (Corned Beef) |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs (Chicago-style) | Lobster Rolls |
Most popular vegan food | Deep-dish Vegan Pizza | Vegan Maple Creemees |
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 Illinois to New Hampshire, you will be trading the iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious New England clam chowder of New Hampshire. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Hot Dogs (Chicago-style), New Hampshire residents know they have tasty Boiled Dinner (Corned Beef) and Lobster Rolls to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Deep-dish Vegan Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Maple Creemees of New Hampshire. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Frontera Grill, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in New Hampshire, don't wait too long before making your way to New Hampshire's acclaimed eateries like The Common Man, Woodstock Inn Brewery, and Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.
When comparing lifestyles, New Hampshire shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Hampshire compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Hampshire.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and New Hampshire
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Ranch | Colonial and Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakefront properties, proximity to Chicago | Scenic views, proximity to nature |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of New Hampshire.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference lakefront properties and proximity to Chicago, New Hampshire real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. New Hampshire is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. New Hampshire is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- New Hampshire has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- New Hampshire housing costs are 81% more expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $465,926 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Hampshire have increased 68% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in New Hampshire is 12.39% more expensive than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and New Hampshire
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornados, Floods | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 80/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/18 | 32/10 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 46 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to New Hampshire. New Hampshire gets 3% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- New Hampshire has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Illinois.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Illinois, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in New Hampshire.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Hampshire is 5 degrees colder than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and New Hampshire
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $89,992 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 116.8 |
State Income Tax | 4.95 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.27 | 2.05 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.81 | 0 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Healthcare | Healthcare, Retail, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Average | Low |
Homelessness | Notable | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Hampshire tend to earn about 17% more than in Illinois
- The COLI in New Hampshire will be 24% higher than what you are used to living in Illinois
- Hooray, moving to NH means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in New Hampshire is high compared to moderate in Illinois
- The poverty level is low in New Hampshire compared to average in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in Illinois and minimal in New Hampshire
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. New Hampshire
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Urban-focused | Local/Libertarian-influenced |
Religion | Christian majority, diverse religious presence | Less religiously affiliated, Christian majority |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New Hampshire, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- New Hampshire's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and with a Christian majority
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority and a diverse religious presence
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to New Hampshire
Comparison | Illinois | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary (Evanston) South Loop Elementary (Chicago) Willowbrook Elementary (Glenview) | Main Dunstable Elementary (Nashua) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Maple School (Northbrook) Kennedy Junior High (Lisle) Woodlawn Middle (Long Grove) | Amherst Middle School (Amherst) Rye Junior High (Rye) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High (Lincolnshire) Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) Northside College Prep (Chicago) | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Hanover High School (Hanover) Bedford High School (Bedford) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) The Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) Holderness School (Plymouth) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) British International School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) Holderness School (Plymouth) The Derryfield School (Manchester) |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District (Northfield) Naperville Community Unit School District 203 (Naperville) Community High School District 128 (Vernon Hills) | Bedford School District (Bedford) Windham School District (Windham) Hanover School District (Hanover) |
How Much Do Illinois to New Hampshire Movers Cost?
Moving 1,083 miles from Illinois to New Hampshire 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: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,816 | 300 ft3 | $6.05 |
1 Bedroom | $2,702 | 450 ft3 | $6.00 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,466 | 750 ft3 | $5.95 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,495 | 1100 ft3 | $5.90 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,368 | 1600 ft3 | $5.85 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,449 | 1800 ft3 | $5.80 |
Top Illinois to New Hampshire Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to New Hampshire movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

606 Movers, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Illinois to New Hampshire