Indiana to Colorado Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated June 15, 2025
Planning a 1,232 mile interstate move from Indiana to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like flat terrain vs mountainous landscapes), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (midwestern traditional vs mountain modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 132% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Colorado is 50.18% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.

Top Indiana to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Indiana to Colorado

Smooth Movers

MVM Moving & Storage
Indiana to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Colorado
- Flat terrain
- Severe winters
- Limited outdoor activities
- Industrial cities
- Mountainous landscapes
- Milder climate
- Abundant outdoor recreation
- Scenic beauty
- Higher housing costs
- Busy urban areas
- Faster pace of life
- Competitive job market
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic congestion
- Close-knit communities
- Ample job opportunities
Pros of moving from Indiana to Colorado
- Say goodbye to flat terrain and hello to mountainous landscapes
- Look forward to moving away from severe winters and moving to Colorado with a milder climate
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Indiana for abundant outdoor recreation in Colorado
- Get ready for scenic beauty in Colorado
Cons of moving from Indiana to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Indiana to live with higher housing costs in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic congestion and have to settle for the con of busy urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to a faster pace of life in Colorado
- Swap ample job opportunities for a competitive job market
Indiana vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Sugar Cream Pie | Green Chili |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan Hot Wings | Quinoa Salad |
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 Indiana to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Sugar Cream Pie, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chili to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Hot Wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and The Love Handle. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Flagstaff House, Frasca Food and Wine, and Ophelia's Electric Soapbox.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Colorado
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern traditional | Mountain modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, basements | Scenic views, proximity to nature |
- The Midwestern traditional architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Mountain modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and basements, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Colorado housing costs are 132% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Colorado is 50.18% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Colorado
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/64Β°F | 85Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F/20Β°F | 45Β°F/18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Colorado. Colorado gets 32% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is the same as Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 26.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Colorado
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 8.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Aerospace, Biotechnology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Average | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 34% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Colorado will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in CO is 4.63% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to average in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Indiana and high in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Colorado
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Lean liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated state government | Democratic-dominated state government |
Religion | Christian-majority with significant Evangelical presence | Less religiously affiliated; higher percentage of unaffiliated or non-religious residents |
- Indiana tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as leaning liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with a higher percentage of unaffiliated or non-religious residents
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a significant Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Colorado
Comparison | Indiana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington; Purdue University West Lafayette; Ball State University Muncie | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder; Colorado State University Fort Collins; University of Denver Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Forest Dale Elementary Carmel; Prairie Vista Elementary Granger; Smoky Row Elementary Carmel | Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs; Cherry Hills Village Elementary Cherry Hills Village; Lincoln Elementary Denver |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Carmel Middle School Carmel; Zionsville Middle School Zionsville; Westfield Middle School Westfield | Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School Colorado Springs; Summit Middle Charter School Boulder; Campus Middle School Greenwood Village |
Top 3 High School Schools | Carmel High School Carmel; Zionsville Community High School Zionsville; West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School West Lafayette | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; Grandview High School Aurora |
Top 3 private high schools | Park Tudor School Indianapolis; Culver Academies Culver; The International School of Indiana Indianapolis | Kent Denver School Englewood; Colorado Academy Denver; St. Mary's Academy Englewood |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Indianapolis; Sycamore School Indianapolis; International School of Indiana Indianapolis | Denver Jewish Day School Denver; Colorado Academy Denver; Aspen Academy Greenwood Village |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools Carmel; Zionsville Community Schools Zionsville; Westfield Washington Schools Westfield | Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village; Boulder Valley School District Boulder; Littleton Public Schools Littleton |
How Much Do Indiana to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,232 miles from Indiana to Colorado 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
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,901 | 300 ft3 | $6.34 |
1 Bedroom | $2,829 | 450 ft3 | $6.29 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,677 | 750 ft3 | $6.24 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,805 | 1100 ft3 | $6.19 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,818 | 1600 ft3 | $6.14 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,956 | 1800 ft3 | $6.09 |