Indiana to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 479 mile interstate move from Indiana to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (midwestern ranch vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Indiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef Manhattan, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Chop
- Iowa housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Iowa is 19.93% more affordable than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Iowa will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Indiana to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Iowa
- Higher cost of living
- Dense population
- Heavier traffic
- Limited job growth
- More affordable housing
- Less crowded cities
- Easy commuting
- Growing job market
- Fewer cultural events
- Smaller job variety
- Newer market developments
- Limited public schools
- Thriving arts scene
- More career opportunities
- Well-established businesses
- Excellent education
Pros of moving from Indiana to Iowa
- Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from a dense population and moving to Iowa with less crowded cities
- Swap the heavier traffic of Indiana for easy commuting in Iowa
- Get ready for a growing job market in Iowa
Cons of moving from Indiana to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a thriving arts scene in Indiana to live with fewer cultural events in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of more career opportunities and have to settle with the con of a smaller job variety
- Time to bid farewell to well-established businesses and get used to newer market developments in Iowa
- Swap excellent education for limited public schools
Indiana vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Manhattan | Pork Chop |
Most popular street food item | Sugar Cream Pie | Taco Pizza |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan BBQ | Tempeh Reuben |
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 Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef Manhattan and sumptuous Sugar Cream Pie, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Chop and Taco Pizza to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Iowa. 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 Carburetor Shop. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Iowa 80 Kitchen, Smokey Row Coffee Co., and Fongβs Pizza.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Iowa, compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Iowa
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern Ranch | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, hardwood floors | Energy efficiency, open-concept layouts |
- The Midwestern Ranch architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and hardwood floors, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and open-concept layouts.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Iowa is less walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Iowa housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Iowa is 19.93% more affordable than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Iowa
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 86/65 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/18 | 31/14 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 32 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Iowa. Iowa gets 10% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe winter storms in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 1 degree warmer than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Iowa
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 3.23 | 4.90 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81 | 1.44 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.00 | 6.94 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Insurance, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Stable |
Poverty | Noticeable | Manageable |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 4% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Iowa will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in IA is 4.90 compared to 3.23 in IN
- The affluence in Iowa is stable compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is manageable in Iowa compared to noticeable in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Indiana and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Iowa
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Moderate Swing State |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance in Rural Areas | Democratic Strongholds in Urban Centers |
Religion | Christian Majority | Christian Majority |
- Indiana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a moderate Swing State
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as a Christian Majority
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian Majority
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Iowa
Comparison | Indiana | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Creekside Elementary (Carmel) Eisenhower Elementary (Fort Wayne) Childs Elementary (Bloomington) | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Brookview Elementary (West Des Moines) Grant Ragan Elementary (Waukee) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Indianapolis) Brown County Junior High (Nashville) | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Waukee Middle School (Waukee) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High School (Carmel) Fishers High School (Fishers) | West Senior High (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Waukee High School (Waukee) |
Top 3 private high schools | Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) The International School of Indiana (Indianapolis) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) | The Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools Zionsville Community Schools Park Tudor School District | Waukee Community School District Ames Community School District Iowa City Community School District |
How Much Do Indiana to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 479 miles from Indiana to Iowa 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: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,474 | 300 ft3 | $4.91 |
1 Bedroom | $2,189 | 450 ft3 | $4.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,610 | 750 ft3 | $4.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,240 | 1100 ft3 | $4.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,542 | 1600 ft3 | $4.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,394 | 1800 ft3 | $4.66 |
Top Indiana to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Indiana to Iowa