Planning a 515 mile interstate move from Kansas to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter storms vs milder winters), food & health (like BBQ ribs vs Green chile), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs pueblo and territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
Say goodbye to BBQ ribs and Beef brisket, but get your taste buds ready
for Green chile & Carne adovada
New Mexico housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Kansas
Rent in New Mexico is 24.15% more expensive than in Kansas
Moving from Kansas to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
Best moving company overall for Kansas to New Mexico
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Kansas to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to New Mexico
ConsKansas
Harsh winter storms
Frequent tornadoes
Flat landscapes
Limited cultural diversity
Humid summers
ProsNew Mexico
Milder winters
Fewer natural disasters
Mountainous terrain
Rich cultural heritage
Dry, pleasant climate
New Mexico
Higher living costs
Less emphasis on farming
More sprawling urban areas
More remote location
Varied cultural influences
Kansas
Lower cost of living
Strong agricultural output
Close-knit communities
Central U.S. location
Traditional Midwestern charm
Pros of moving from Kansas to New Mexico
Say goodbye to harsh winter storms and hello to milder winters
Look forward to moving away from frequent tornadoes and moving to New Mexico with fewer natural disasters
Swap the flat landscapes of Kansas for mountainous terrain in New Mexico
Get ready for rich cultural heritage in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Kansas to New Mexico
Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Kansas to live with higher living costs in New Mexico
You'll lose out on the pro of strong agricultural output and have to settle for the con of less emphasis on farming
Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to more sprawling urban areas in New Mexico
Swap a central U.S. location for a more remote location
Kansas vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison
Kansas
New Mexico
Most iconic local food item
BBQ ribs
Green chile
Most popular meat dish
Beef brisket
Carne adovada
Most popular street food item
BBQ sandwiches
Tacos
Most popular vegan food
Jackfruit BBQ
Vegetarian tamales
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Q39
Arthur Bryant's
Sadie's of New Mexico
El Pinto
Frontier Restaurant
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10)
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Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10)
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Foodie Scene (out of 10)
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Vegan Friendly (out of 10)
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If you're moving from Kansas to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic BBQ ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious green chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful beef brisket and sumptuous BBQ sandwiches, New Mexico residents know they have tasty carne adovada and tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the jackfruit BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegetarian tamales of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kansas eateries like Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Arthur Bryant's. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, El Pinto, and Frontier Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and New Mexico
The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
Compared to Kansas's real estate listings, which commonly reference spacious yards and garages, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like views and open floor plans.
Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New Mexico is more walkable than Kansas.
Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
New Mexico housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
Rent in New Mexico is 24.15% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and New Mexico
Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kansas to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 22% more sunshine days than Kansas.
New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kansas.
Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 3 degrees warmer than in Kansas.
The average winter lows are 0 degrees colder than they are in Kansas.
Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and New Mexico
Comparison
Kansas
New Mexico
Avg. Household Income
$68,925
$59,726
Cost of Living Index
91.8
96.45
State Income Tax
3.1 - 5.7%
1.7 - 5.9%
Avg. Property Tax
1.36%
0.78%
Avg. Sales Tax
8.7%
7.8%
Top 3 Industries
Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy
Oil & Gas, Tourism, Film & Television
Affluence
Moderate
Low
Poverty
Average
High
Homelessness
Low
Moderate
When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 13% less than in Kansas
The COLI in New Mexico is 5% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
The state income tax in NM is 1.7% to 5.9% compared to 3.1% to 5.7% in KS
The affluence in New Mexico is low compared to moderate affluence in Kansas
The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to average poverty in Kansas
In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. New Mexico
Comparison
Kansas
New Mexico
Political Make-up
Traditionally leans Republican
Leans Democratic
Local Politics
Moderate with a conservative tilt
Progressive in many areas
Religion
Christianity predominant
Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence
Kansas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
New Mexico's religious environment can be described as mixed with a significant Catholic presence
Kansas's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to New Mexico
Comparison
Kansas
New Mexico
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)
University of Kansas Lawrence; Kansas State University Manhattan; Wichita State University Wichita
University of New Mexico Albuquerque; New Mexico State University Las Cruces; New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro
Top 3 Elementary Schools
Sunflower Elementary School Lawrence; Prairie Ridge Elementary Shawnee; Clear Creek Elementary Shawnee
Lincoln Elementary School Gallup; Pinon Elementary School Santa Fe; Monte Vista Elementary School Albuquerque
Top 3 Middle Schools
Indian Hills Middle School Prairie Village; Lakewood Middle School Overland Park; Aubry Bend Middle School Overland Park
Milagro Middle School Santa Fe; Desert Ridge Middle School Albuquerque; Lybrook Middle School Blanco
Top 3 High School Schools
Blue Valley North High School Overland Park; Olathe Northwest High School Olathe; Lawrence Free State High School Lawrence
La Cueva High School Albuquerque; Los Alamos High School Los Alamos; Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science Albuquerque
Top 3 private high schools
Bishop Miege High School Roeland Park; Rockhurst High School Kansas City; St. Thomas Aquinas Overland Park
Santa Fe Preparatory School Santa Fe; Sandia Preparatory School Albuquerque; Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque
Top 3 private K-12 schools
Wichita Collegiate School Wichita; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; The Barstow School Kansas City
Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Bosque School Albuquerque; Santa Fe Preparatory School Santa Fe
Top 3 School Districts
Blue Valley School District Overland Park; Olathe Public Schools Olathe; Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission
Albuquerque Public Schools Albuquerque; Los Alamos Public Schools Los Alamos; Rio Rancho Public Schools Rio Rancho
How Much Do Kansas to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 515 miles from Kansas to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
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