Indiana to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,272 mile interstate move from Indiana to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (midwestern, colonial vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 27% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in New Mexico is 0.95% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Indiana to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to New Mexico
- Harsh winters
- Flat terrain
- Limited outdoor activities
- High property taxes
- Milder climate
- Scenic landscapes
- Rich cultural heritage
- Lower property taxes
- Unfamiliar environment
- Arid conditions
- Distance from family
- Higher cost of living
- Familiar community
- Green landscapes
- Family ties
- Midwestern charm
Pros of moving from Indiana to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from flat terrain and moving to New Mexico with scenic landscapes
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Indiana for rich cultural heritage in New Mexico
- Get ready for lower property taxes in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Indiana to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from familiar community in Indiana to live with unfamiliar environment in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of green landscapes and have to settle for the con of arid conditions
- Time to bid farewell to family ties and get used to distance from family in New Mexico
- Swap Midwestern charm for higher cost of living
Indiana vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Corn Dogs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Hoagie | Blue Corn Tacos |
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 New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Corn Dogs, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Hoagie they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Tacos of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, The Lizton Dairy Barn, and Bluebeard. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like SantaCafΓ©, Frontier Restaurant, and El Sagrado Bistro.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern, Colonial | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Basements | Views, Solar panels |
- The Midwestern and Colonial architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and basements, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like views and solar panels.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Indiana.
- New Mexico housing costs are 27% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in New Mexico is 0.95% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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, Flash Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 64Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 36Β°F / 20Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 51% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- New Mexico 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 flash floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 7 degrees warmer than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 1.7% - 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Film & TV |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Stable | Pronounced |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 11% less than those in Indiana
- The COLI in New Mexico is 4% higher than what you are used to in Indiana
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% - 5.9% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in New Mexico is varied compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is pronounced in New Mexico compared to stable in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Indiana and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican stronghold in rural areas | Diverse, with Democratic dominance in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant | More religious diversity, including higher percentages of Catholic and Native American spiritual practices |
- Indiana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as having more religious diversity, including higher percentages of Catholic and Native American spiritual practices
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to New Mexico
Comparison | Indiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Burris Laboratory School (Muncie) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) | Sydney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Pinon Elementary (Los Alamos) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High (West Lafayette) Baseline Middle (Bloomington) Discovery Middle (Granger) | Los Alamos Middle (Los Alamos) Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle (Roswell) |
Top 3 High Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High (Carmel) Zionsville Community High (Zionsville) | La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Los Alamos High (Los Alamos) |
Top 3 private high schools | Park Tudor (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Prep (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) | Bosque School (Albuquerque) The Menaul School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | West Lafayette School Corporation Carmel Clay Schools Zionsville Community Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Indiana to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,272 miles from Indiana to New Mexico 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: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,924 | 300 ft3 | $6.41 |
1 Bedroom | $2,863 | 450 ft3 | $6.36 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,734 | 750 ft3 | $6.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,888 | 1100 ft3 | $6.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,939 | 1600 ft3 | $6.21 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,092 | 1800 ft3 | $6.16 |
Top Indiana to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.