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Indiana to North Dakota Moving Guide

Updated June 22, 2025

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Planning a 1,052 mile interstate move from Indiana to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs lower humidity), food & health (like Pork tenderloin sandwich vs Knoephla soup), real estate & housing (victorian, craftsman vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Dakota), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Pork tenderloin sandwich and Breaded pork tenderloin, but get your taste buds ready for Knoephla soup & Bison steak
  • North Dakota housing costs are 7% more expensive than they are in Indiana
  • Rent in North Dakota is 24.36% more affordable than in Indiana
  • Moving from Indiana to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
  • Our top recommended Indiana to North Dakota movers is Two Men and a Truck

Indiana to North Dakota Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to North Dakota

ConsIndiana iconIndiana
  • High humidity
  • Heavy traffic
  • Limited outdoor space
  • Costly housing
ProsNorth Dakota iconNorth Dakota
  • Lower humidity
  • Less congestion
  • Vast open landscapes
  • Affordable homes

North Dakota iconNorth Dakota
  • Harsh winters
  • Limited cultural activities
  • Less economic diversity
  • Fewer restaurant choices
Indiana iconIndiana
  • Mild winters
  • Rich cultural scene
  • Vibrant economy
  • Diverse dining options

Pros of moving from Indiana to North Dakota

  • Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to lower humidity
  • Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to North Dakota with less congestion
  • Swap the limited outdoor space of Indiana for vast open landscapes in North Dakota
  • Get ready for affordable homes in North Dakota

Cons of moving from Indiana to North Dakota

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Indiana to live with harsh winters in North Dakota
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural scene and have to settle for the con of limited cultural activities
  • Time to bid farewell to a vibrant economy and get used to less economic diversity in North Dakota
  • Swap diverse dining options for fewer restaurant choices

Indiana vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Most iconic local food itemPork tenderloin sandwichKnoephla soup
Most popular meat dishBreaded pork tenderloinBison steak
Most popular street food itemIndiana corn dogsFry bread tacos
Most popular vegan foodVegetable curryLentil stew
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
    • St. Elmo Steak House
    • Bluebird
    • The Love Handle
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Indiana to North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Knoephla Soup of North Dakota. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Breaded Pork Tenderloin and sumptuous Indiana Corn Dogs, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Fry Bread Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Curry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Stew of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebird, and The Love Handle. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, The Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and HoDo Restaurant.

When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and North Dakota

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Typical Architecture StyleVictorian, CraftsmanRanch, Split-level
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingSpacious backyards, Hardwood floorsEnergy efficiency, Open floor plans
  • The Victorian and Craftsman architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of North Dakota.
  • Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and hardwood floors, North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and open floor plans.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Dakota is less walkable than Indiana.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike; North Dakota is less bike-friendly than Indiana.
  • North Dakota has less of an urban feel than Indiana.
  • North Dakota housing costs are 7% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to Indiana’s $236,990.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased by 18% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
  • Rent in North Dakota is 24.36% more affordable than in Indiana.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and North Dakota

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersTornadoes, Severe ThunderstormsBlizzards, Flooding
Air QualityGoodExcellent
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)85Β°F / 65Β°F82Β°F / 57Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)35Β°F / 20Β°F23Β°F / 2Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)4217
Annual Snowfall (Inches)2250
  • Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 6% more sunshine days than Indiana.
  • North Dakota has similar humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Indiana.
  • Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and flooding in North Dakota.
  • The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 3 degrees colder than in Indiana.
  • The average winter lows are 18 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 25 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and North Dakota

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Avg. Household Income$66,785$71,970
Cost of Living Index92.9595.3
State Income Tax3.23%2.90%
Avg. Property Tax0.85%1.05%
Avg. Sales Tax7%5%
Top 3 IndustriesManufacturing, Healthcare, AgricultureOil & Gas, Agriculture, Construction
AffluenceModerateModerate
PovertyModerateLow
HomelessnessModerateLow
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 8% more than those in Indiana
  • The COLI in North Dakota will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
  • The state income tax in ND is 2.90% compared to 3.23% in IN
  • The affluence in North Dakota is moderate compared to moderate in Indiana
  • The poverty level is low in North Dakota compared to moderate in Indiana
  • In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Indiana and low in North Dakota

Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. North Dakota

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Political Make-upLean ConservativeConservative
Local PoliticsMixed urban-rural dynamicsLargely rural influence
ReligionChristian majority (Protestant & Catholic)Christian majority (Lutheran & Catholic)
  • Indiana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
  • North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative
  • North Dakota's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority (Lutheran & Catholic)
  • Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority (Protestant & Catholic)

Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to North Dakota

ComparisonIndianaNorth Dakota
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)Indiana University
Purdue University
Ball State University
North Dakota State University
University of North Dakota
Minot State University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsSchool 84
Indianapolis; Smoky Row Elementary
Carmel; Cumberland Road Elementary
Fishers
Freedom Elementary
West Fargo; Lincoln Elementary
Dickinson; Liberty Elementary
Bismarck
Top 3 Middle SchoolsWestlane Middle School
Indianapolis; Brown County Junior High
Nashville; Creekside Middle School
Carmel
Ben Franklin Middle School
Fargo; Horizon Middle School
Bismarck; Wachter Middle School
Bismarck
Top 3 High School SchoolsSignature School
Evansville; Carmel High School
Carmel; Fishers High School
Fishers
Central High School
Grand Forks; Century High School
Bismarck; Davies High School
Fargo
Top 3 private high schoolsCathedral High School
Indianapolis; Park Tudor School
Indianapolis; Heritage Christian School
Indianapolis
Shanley High School
Fargo; St. Mary's Central High School
Bismarck; Oak Grove Lutheran School
Fargo
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsPark Tudor School
Indianapolis; Heritage Christian School
Indianapolis; Traders Point Christian Academy
Whitestown
Oak Grove Lutheran School
Fargo; Shiloh Christian School
Bismarck; Dakota Adventist Academy
Bismarck
Top 3 School DistrictsCarmel Clay Schools
Carmel; Hamilton Southeastern Schools
Fishers; West Lafayette Community School Corporation
West Lafayette
West Fargo Public Schools
West Fargo; Bismarck Public Schools
Bismarck; Fargo Public Schools
Fargo

How Much Do Indiana to North Dakota Movers Cost?

Moving 1,052 miles from Indiana to North Dakota will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,799300 ft3$6.00
1 Bedroom$2,676450 ft3$5.95
2 Bedrooms$4,422750 ft3$5.90
3 Bedrooms$6,4311100 ft3$5.85
4 Bedrooms$9,2741600 ft3$5.80
5+ Bedrooms$10,3431800 ft3$5.75

Top Indiana to North Dakota Movers

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

TOP PICK
Two Men and a Truck featured image

Two Men and a Truck

Best moving company overall for Indiana to North Dakota

9.30/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
MVM Moving & Storage featured image

MVM Moving & Storage

9.23/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Bulldogs Moving Co. featured image

Bulldogs Moving Co.

9.13/10
ExceptionalView details

Indianapolis to North Dakota

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