Indiana to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 749 mile interstate move from Indiana to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs milder summers), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs victorian, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Minnesota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye
- Minnesota housing costs are 40% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Minnesota is 23.49% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Minnesota will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Minnesota movers is Metro Movers
Indiana to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Minnesota
- Hot summers
- Limited winter sports
- Fewer lakes
- Flat geography
- Milder summers
- Abundant winter activities
- Land of 10,000 Lakes
- Diverse landscapes
- Higher living costs
- Heavy snowfalls
- Distant from coasts
- Harsh winter cold
- Lower cost of living
- Less snowfall
- Central location
- Moderate winter cold
Pros of moving from Indiana to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited winter sports and moving to Minnesota with abundant winter activities
- Swap the fewer lakes of Indiana for the land of 10,000 Lakes in Minnesota
- Get ready for diverse landscapes in Minnesota
Cons of moving from Indiana to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Indiana to live with the higher living costs in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of less snowfall and have to settle for the con of heavy snowfalls
- Time to bid farewell to the central location and get used to being distant from coasts in Minnesota
- Swap moderate winter cold for harsh winter cold
Indiana vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | Walleye |
Most popular street food item | Sugar Cream Pie | Jucy Lucy |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan BBQ | Wild Rice Soup |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Sugar Cream Pie, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Walleye and Jucy Lucy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Hell's Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Minnesota, compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Minnesota
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, backyard | Lake access, green space |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and backyards, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and green space.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Minnesota is more walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Minnesota is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Minnesota has more of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Minnesota housing costs are 40% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Minnesota is 23.49% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Minnesota
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Cold snaps, blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 83/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/18 | 24/8 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 54 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 6% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Minnesota has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential cold snaps and blizzards in Minnesota.
- The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 2 degrees colder than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows in Minnesota are 10 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Minnesota
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 5.35% - 9.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.87% | 1.08% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 7.88% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail | Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 23% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Minnesota will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in MN is 5.35% - 9.85% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in Minnesota is high compared to moderate affluence in Indiana
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate poverty in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Indiana and moderate in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Minnesota
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Leans Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Mixed, with conservative policies in rural areas | Progressive policies in cities, diverse political representation |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a significant Evangelical presence | Diverse, with Christianity leading but includes higher percentages of non-Christian faiths |
- Indiana tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as diverse, with Christianity leading but also including higher percentages of non-Christian faiths
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a significant Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Minnesota
Comparison | Indiana | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University St. Cloud State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Carmel Elementary School (Carmel) | Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) Greenwood Elementary (Plymouth) Deephaven Elementary (Deephaven) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) Carmel Middle School (Carmel) Fall Creek Middle School (Indianapolis) | Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Eden Prairie Central Middle School (Eden Prairie) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Carmel High School (Carmel) Signature School (Evansville) Fishers High School (Fishers) | Edina High School (Edina) Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) | Breck School (Golden Valley) Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) | Breck School (Golden Valley) Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Zionsville Community Schools | Minnetonka Public School District Edina Public School District Wayzata Public School District |
How Much Do Indiana to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 749 miles from Indiana to Minnesota will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,627 | 300 ft3 | $5.42 |
1 Bedroom | $2,418 | 450 ft3 | $5.37 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,993 | 750 ft3 | $5.32 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,801 | 1100 ft3 | $5.27 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,358 | 1600 ft3 | $5.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,313 | 1800 ft3 | $5.17 |
Top Indiana to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.