Indiana to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a 1,862 mile interstate move from Indiana to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Idaho Potatoes), real estate & housing (midwestern traditional, bungalow vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Idaho), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Sugar Cream Pie, but get your taste buds ready for Idaho Potatoes & Huckleberry-glazed meat
- Idaho housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Idaho is 19.71% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Idaho will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Idaho movers is 208 Moving Company
Indiana to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Idaho
- Harsh winters
- Urban congestion
- Limited outdoor activities
- High humidity
- Flat landscapes
- Milder climate
- Spacious rural areas
- Abundant natural sites
- Dryer air
- Mountainous scenery
- Higher living expenses
- Fewer cultural options
- Remote areas
- Limited job market
- Fewer museums
- Lower cost of living
- Rich cultural scene
- Central location
- Well-established industries
- Abundant museums
Pros of moving from Indiana to Idaho
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from urban congestion and moving to Idaho with spacious rural areas
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Indiana for abundant natural sites in Idaho
- Get ready for dryer air in Idaho
Cons of moving from Indiana to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Indiana to live with the higher living expenses in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural scene and have to settle with the con of fewer cultural options
- Time to bid farewell to the central location and get used to remote areas in Idaho
- Swap well-established industries for a limited job market
Indiana vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Idaho Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Sugar Cream Pie | Huckleberry-glazed meat |
Most popular street food item | Elephant Ear | Fry Bread |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan dishes | Quinoa salads |
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 Idaho, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Idaho Potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Sugar Cream Pie and sumptuous Elephant Ear, Idaho residents know they have tasty Huckleberry-glazed meat and Fry Bread to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa salads of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, The Bluebird, and Shapiro's Delicatessen. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like Boise Fry Company, State and Lemp, and The Modern Hotel and Bar.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho, compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Idaho
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern traditional, Bungalow | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, proximity to schools | Mountain views, outdoor recreational access |
- The Midwestern traditional and Bungalow architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and proximity to schools, Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor recreational access.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Idaho is less walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Idaho is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Idaho has less of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Idaho housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Indiana with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased 69% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Idaho is 19.71% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Idaho
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 80/50 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/20 | 35/15 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 18 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Idaho. Idaho gets 10% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Idaho has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana and be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 5 degrees colder than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Idaho
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $72,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 91.5 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 6.925% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.87% | 0.69% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.00% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Idaho tend to earn about 9% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Idaho is 2% lower than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in ID is 6.925% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in Idaho is moderate compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is low in Idaho compared to moderate in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Indiana and low in Idaho
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Idaho
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Strong Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed urban and rural | Rural-dominated |
Religion | Christian-majority, diverse affiliations | Christian-majority, with a significant Mormon community |
- Indiana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as strong Republican
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as Christian-majority with a significant Mormon community
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian-majority with diverse affiliations
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Idaho
Comparison | Indiana | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Bloomington Purdue University West Lafayette Ball State University | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) West Lafayette Junior/Senior High (West Lafayette) School for Community Learning (Indianapolis) | Anser Charter School (Garden City) White Pine Elementary (Boise) The Village Charter School (Boise) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Heritage Middle School (Fort Wayne) Brown County Junior High (Nashville) Northside Middle School (Columbus) | North Star Charter School (Eagle) Renaissance Charter School (Meridian) Lakeside Elementary School (Plummer) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High School (Carmel) Fishers High School (Fishers) | Boise High School (Boise) McCall-Donnelly High School (McCall) Timberline High School (Boise) |
Top 3 private high schools | Cathedral High School (Indianapolis) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) | Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) | The Ambrose School (Meridian) North Idaho Christian School (Hayden) The Bear Lake Montessori Academy (Montpelier) |
Top 3 School Districts | West Lafayette Community School Corporation Carmel Clay Schools Brownsburg Community School Corporation | Boise Independent School District Blaine County School District Moscow School District |
How Much Do Indiana to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 1,862 miles from Indiana to Idaho will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,258 | 300 ft3 | $7.53 |
1 Bedroom | $3,365 | 450 ft3 | $7.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,570 | 750 ft3 | $7.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,115 | 1100 ft3 | $7.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,723 | 1600 ft3 | $7.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,099 | 1800 ft3 | $7.28 |
Top Indiana to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.