Indiana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 426 mile interstate move from Indiana to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (midwestern, ranch vs colonial, 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 and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Tennessee is 24.58% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Indiana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- Flat terrain
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Long commutes
- Higher property taxes
- Milder climate
- Scenic landscapes
- Diverse outdoor recreation
- Shorter commutes
- Lower property taxes
- Less agricultural landscape
- New cultural norms
- Higher sales tax
- Less urban development
- SEC sports instead
- Lush farmlands
- Familiar culture
- Lower sales taxes
- Indianapolis attractions
- Big Ten sports
Pros of moving from Indiana to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from flat terrain and moving to Tennessee with scenic landscapes
- Swap the fewer outdoor activities of Indiana for diverse outdoor recreation in Tennessee
- Get ready for shorter commutes in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Indiana to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush farmlands in Indiana to live with less agricultural landscape in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of a familiar culture and have to settle with the con of new cultural norms
- Time to bid farewell to lower sales taxes and get used to higher sales tax in Tennessee
- Swap Indianapolis attractions for less urban development
Indiana vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Popcorn | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowl | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Popcorn, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grain Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Milktooth, and Bluebeard. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Jack's Bar-B-Que, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern, Ranch | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Basements | Mountain views, Proximity to nature |
- The Midwestern and Ranch architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and basements, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Tennessee housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Tennessee is 24.58% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 89/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/20 | 49/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 53 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 11% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Tennessee 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 tornadoes and earthquakes in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 4 degrees warmer than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 11 more inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Healthcare, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Lower | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 2% less than those in Indiana
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Indiana
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Indiana
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to lower poverty in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Indiana and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mix of urban liberal & rural conservative areas | Dominantly conservative, especially in rural areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban areas | Christianity predominant, specifically Evangelical Protestant |
- Indiana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity, specifically Evangelical Protestant
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Tennessee
Comparison | Indiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University University of Notre Dame | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Middle Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Homestead Senior High School (Fort Wayne) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) | Lockeland Elementary Design Center (Nashville) Lipscomb Academy Elementary School (Nashville) New Hope Academy (Franklin) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Northview Middle School (Indianapolis) Brownsburg East Middle School (Brownsburg) Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Lawrence) | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Meigs Middle Magnet School (Nashville) Page Middle School (Franklin) |
Top 3 High Schools | Carmel High School (Carmel) Munster High School (Munster) Signature School (Evansville) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools (Carmel) Zionsville Community Schools (Zionsville) West Lafayette Community School Corporation (West Lafayette) | Williamson County Schools (Franklin) Franklin Special School District (Franklin) Metro Nashville Public Schools (Nashville) |
How Much Do Indiana to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 426 miles from Indiana to Tennessee 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: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,444 | 300 ft3 | $4.81 |
1 Bedroom | $2,143 | 450 ft3 | $4.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,535 | 750 ft3 | $4.71 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,130 | 1100 ft3 | $4.66 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,381 | 1600 ft3 | $4.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,214 | 1800 ft3 | $4.56 |
Top Indiana to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Indiana to Tennessee