Illinois to Ohio Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 410 mile interstate move from Illinois to Ohio? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Ohio across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high taxes vs lower taxes), food & health (like Deep-dish Pizza vs Buckeye Candy), real estate & housing (prairie style, chicago bungalow vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Deep-dish Pizza and Italian Beef Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Buckeye Candy & Cincinnati Chili
- Ohio housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Ohio is 17.32% more affordable than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to Ohio will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Illinois to Ohio movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Illinois to Ohio Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Ohio
- High taxes
- Brutal winters
- Costly living
- Traffic congestion
- Lower taxes
- Milder winters
- Affordable housing
- Less traffic
- Smaller cities
- Fewer attractions
- Limited cuisines
- Less public transport
- Thriving cultural scene
- World-class museums
- Diverse dining options
- Extensive public transit
Pros of moving from Illinois to Ohio
- Say goodbye to high taxes and hello to lower taxes
- Look forward to moving away from brutal winters and moving to Ohio with milder winters
- Swap the costly living of Illinois for affordable housing in Ohio
- Get ready for less traffic in Ohio
Cons of moving from Illinois to Ohio
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the thriving cultural scene in Illinois to live with smaller cities in Ohio
- You'll lose out on the pro of world-class museums and have to settle for the con of fewer attractions
- Time to bid farewell to diverse dining options and get used to limited cuisines in Ohio
- Swap extensive public transit for less public transport
Illinois vs. Ohio: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-dish Pizza | Buckeye Candy |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef Sandwich | Cincinnati Chili |
Most popular street food item | Chicago-style Hot Dog | Polish Boy |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan | Jackfruit BBQ |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Ohio, you will be trading the iconic Deep-dish Pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Buckeye Candy of Ohio. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Ohio residents know they have tasty Cincinnati Chili and Polish Boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ of Ohio. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in Ohio, don't wait too long before making your way to Ohio's acclaimed eateries like Slyman's Deli, Skyline Chili, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.
When comparing lifestyles, Ohio shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Ohio compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Ohio.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Ohio
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie Style, Chicago Bungalow | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Spacious backyard, Open floor plan |
- The Prairie Style and Chicago Bungalow architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Ohio.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Ohio real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and open floor plans.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Ohio is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Ohio is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Ohio has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Ohio housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Illinois with a median home price of $223,135 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Ohio have increased by 49% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Ohio is 17.32% more affordable than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Ohio
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
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, storms | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/18 | 36/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 28 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Illinois to Ohio. Ohio gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Illinois.
- Ohio has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Illinois.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Illinois, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Ohio.
- The average summer high temperature in Ohio is 2 degrees colder than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Ohio. Ohio receives 3 more inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Ohio
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $65,720 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 92.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 2.85% - 3.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.16% | 1.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.81% | 7.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Energy | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Financial Services |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Ohio tend to earn about 14% less than those in Illinois
- The COLI in Ohio is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Illinois
- The state income tax in OH is 2.85% - 3.99% compared to 4.95% in IL
- The affluence in Ohio is average compared to moderate in Illinois
- The poverty level is moderate in Ohio compared to high in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Illinois and low in Ohio
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Ohio
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Large urban areas skew Democratic | Mixed, with urban areas leaning Democratic & rural areas conservative |
Religion | Christianity is predominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity is majority, with a notable presence of other religious groups |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Ohio, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Ohio's religious environment can be described as Christianity being the majority, with a notable presence of other religious groups
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity being predominant and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Ohio
Comparison | Illinois | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Miami University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Skinner North Classical School Chicago; Lincoln Elementary School Springfield; Keller Elementary Gifted Magnet School Chicago | Indian Hill Elementary Cincinnati; Oakwood Elementary School Dayton; Granville Elementary School Granville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Skinner North Classical School Chicago; Payton College Preparatory High School Chicago; Lane Tech College Prep High School Chicago | Bexley Middle School Bexley; Hudson Middle School Hudson; Solon Middle School Solon |
Top 3 High School Schools | Walter Payton College Prep Chicago; Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago; Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire | Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati; Bexley High School Bexley; Solon High School Solon |
Top 3 private high schools | The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Chicago; Francis W. Parker School Chicago; Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest | Hawken School Gates Mills; University School Hunting Valley; The Seven Hills School Cincinnati |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Fox Valley Montessori School Aurora; Avery Coonley School Downers Grove; Science & Arts Academy Des Plaines | The Columbus Academy Gahanna; Cincinnati Country Day School Cincinnati; Hathaway Brown School Shaker Heights |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District 203 Northfield; Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Naperville; Evanston Township High School District 202 Evanston | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Cincinnati; Solon City School District Solon; Ottawa Hills Local School District Ottawa Hills |
How Much Do Illinois to Ohio Movers Cost?
Moving 410 miles from Illinois to Ohio will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,435 | 300 ft3 | $4.78 |
1 Bedroom | $2,130 | 450 ft3 | $4.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,512 | 750 ft3 | $4.68 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,096 | 1100 ft3 | $4.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,333 | 1600 ft3 | $4.58 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,160 | 1800 ft3 | $4.53 |
Top Illinois to Ohio Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Ohio movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Ohio