Kansas to North Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 1,284 mile interstate move from Kansas to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme tornado risk vs mild coastal weather), food & health (like BBQ ribs vs Pulled pork), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ ribs and Beef brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled pork & Eastern-style BBQ chicken
- North Carolina housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in North Carolina is 57.87% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to North Carolina will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to North Carolina movers is Just Move It, LLC
Kansas to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to North Carolina
- Extreme Tornado Risk
- Limited Mountain Ranges
- Less Entertainment Options
- Flat Geography
- Mild Coastal Weather
- Scenic Appalachian Mountains
- Vibrant Cultural Scene
- Diverse Landscape
- Higher Cost of Living
- Traffic Congestion
- Hurricane Risk
- Humidity Levels
- Spacious Living
- Close-knit Communities
- Lower Crime Rates
- Affordable Housing
Pros of moving from Kansas to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to extreme Tornado Risk and hello to mild Coastal Weather
- Look forward to moving away from limited Mountain Ranges and moving to North Carolina with scenic Appalachian Mountains
- Swap the fewer Entertainment Options of Kansas for a vibrant Cultural Scene in North Carolina
- Get ready for a diverse Landscape in North Carolina
Cons of moving from Kansas to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from spacious Living in Kansas to live with a higher Cost of Living in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit Communities and have to settle with the con of traffic Congestion
- Time to bid farewell to lower Crime Rates and get used to the hurricane Risk in North Carolina
- Swap affordable Housing for high humidity Levels
Kansas vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ ribs | Pulled pork |
Most popular meat dish | Beef brisket | Eastern-style BBQ chicken |
Most popular street food item | Burnt ends | Shrimp and grits |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Collard greens |
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 Kansas to North Carolina, you will be trading the iconic BBQ ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Pulled pork of North Carolina. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Beef brisket and sumptuous Burnt ends, North Carolina residents know they have tasty Eastern-style BBQ chicken and Shrimp and grits 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 Collard greens of North Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kansas eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Stroud's, and The Rieger. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like 12 Bones Smokehouse, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Chef and the Farmer.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in North Carolina compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and North Carolina
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, basements | Hardwood floors, granite countertops |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and basements, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and granite countertops.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; North Carolina is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; North Carolina is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- North Carolina has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- North Carolina housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in North Carolina is 57.87% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and North Carolina
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Hurricanes, Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 88Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 19" | 6" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to North Carolina. North Carolina gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- North Carolina has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and storms in North Carolina.
- The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 2 degrees cooler than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows in North Carolina are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in North Carolina. North Carolina receives 22 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and North Carolina
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 3.1% - 5.7% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6.98% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aerospace | Technology, Finance, Pharmaceuticals |
Affluence | Moderate | Growing |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 2% less than in Kansas
- The COLI in North Carolina is 4% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in NC is 5.25% compared to 3.1% to 5.7% in KS
- The affluence in North Carolina is growing compared to moderate affluence in Kansas
- The poverty level is moderate in North Carolina compared to moderate poverty in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and moderate in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. North Carolina
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican, but recent elections have seen competitive races in both parties | Mixed political landscape with noticeable urban-rural divide; urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas are predominantly Republican |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on agricultural and rural community interests | Diverse interests with strong banking, technology, and research sectors alongside traditional agricultural influences |
Religion | Majorly Christian, with a significant presence of Evangelical Protestants | Largely Christian, with a diverse representation of Protestant, Baptist, and Methodist communities |
- Kansas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as having a mixed political landscape with a noticeable urban-rural divide where urban areas lean Democratic and rural areas are predominantly Republican
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as largely Christian with a diverse representation of Protestant, Baptist, and Methodist communities
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majorly Christian with a significant presence of Evangelical Protestants
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to North Carolina
Comparison | Kansas | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Prairie Elementary (Prairie Village) Corinth Elementary (Leawood) Meadowbrook Elementary (Prairie Village) | Endhaven Elementary (Charlotte) Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Davis Drive Elementary (Cary) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle (Leawood) Indian Hills Middle (Prairie Village) Lakewood Middle (Overland Park) | Smith Middle (Chapel Hill) Ligon Middle (Raleigh) Jay M. Robinson Middle (Charlotte) |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Olathe North High (Olathe) | Green Hope High (Cary) Myers Park High (Charlotte) Panther Creek High (Cary) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Bishop Seabury Academy (Lawrence) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita) | Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Cary Academy (Cary) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Independent School (Wichita) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Kansas City Christian School (Prairie Village) | Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) Providence Day School (Charlotte) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe School District | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
How Much Do Kansas to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 1,284 miles from Kansas to North Carolina 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: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,930 | 300 ft3 | $6.43 |
1 Bedroom | $2,873 | 450 ft3 | $6.38 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,751 | 750 ft3 | $6.33 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,913 | 1100 ft3 | $6.28 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,976 | 1600 ft3 | $6.23 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,133 | 1800 ft3 | $6.18 |
Top Kansas to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for Kansas to North Carolina