Kansas to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,472 mile interstate move from Kansas to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler climates), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Dungeness Crab), real estate & housing (ranch vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Dungeness Crab & Grilled Salmon
- Oregon housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Oregon is 60.91% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Oregon will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Kansas to Oregon movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Kansas to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Oregon
- Hot summers
- Flat landscapes
- Limited outdoor activities
- Less cultural diversity
- Cooler climates
- Scenic views
- Diverse recreation
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Higher living costs
- Competitive housing market
- Fast-paced environment
- Remote distances
- Friendly communities
- Affordable housing
- Simple lifestyle
- Central location
Pros of moving from Kansas to Oregon
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to cooler climates
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Oregon with scenic views
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Kansas for diverse recreation in Oregon
- Get ready for a vibrant cultural scene in Oregon
Cons of moving from Kansas to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from friendly communities in Kansas to live with higher living costs in Oregon
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable housing and have to settle for the con of a competitive housing market
- Time to bid farewell to a simple lifestyle and get used to a fast-paced environment in Oregon
- Swap a central location for remote distances
Kansas vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Dungeness Crab |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Grilled Salmon |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwich | Food Cart Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Vegan Burrito |
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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Dungeness Crab of Oregon. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous BBQ Sandwich, Oregon residents know they have tasty Grilled Salmon and Food Cart 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 Vegan Burrito of Oregon. 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, Jack Stack Barbecue, and Arthur Bryant's. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Voodoo Doughnut, Andina, and Pok Pok.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Oregon
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Yards, Garages | Eco-Friendly Features, Outdoor Spaces |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly attributes and outdoor spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Oregon is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Oregon is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Oregon has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Oregon housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Oregon is 60.91% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Oregon
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; Mostly Good with some areas of concern |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 68Β°F | 81Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F / 20Β°F | 47Β°F / 33Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28-50 | 36-100 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 13-35 | 8-60 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to Oregon. Oregon gets 37% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- Oregon has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Oregon.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 8 degrees cooler than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows in Oregon are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oregon. Oregon receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Oregon
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.3 | 1.0 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7 | 0.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education | Technology, Forestry, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 10% more than in Kansas
- The COLI in Oregon will be 20% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in OR is 9.9 compared to 5.7 in KS
- The affluence in Oregon is high compared to moderate in Kansas
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to low in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and high in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Oregon
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with leanings towards conservatism | Progressive, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Locally varies, conservative in rural areas | Liberal policies dominate in cities like Portland |
Religion | Christian majority with a diverse range of other faiths | Less religiously affiliated overall |
- Kansas tends to lean mixed, with leanings towards conservatism in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as progressive, especially in urban areas
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated overall
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian majority with a diverse range of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Oregon
Comparison | Kansas | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meadowlark Ridge Elementary (Salina) Sunset Hill Elementary (Lawrence) Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) | Ardenwald Elementary (Milwaukie) Forest Park Elementary (Portland) Ainsworth Elementary (Portland) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle (Leawood) Lakewood Middle (Overland Park) Prairie Star Middle (Leawood) | West Sylvan Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Lakeridge Middle School (Lake Oswego) |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Blue Valley High (Stilwell) | Corvallis High School (Corvallis) South Eugene High School (Eugene) Lake Oswego High School (Lake Oswego) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop Seabury Academy (Lawrence) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita) The Independent School (Wichita) | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) St. Mary's Academy (Portland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Independent School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Delphian School (Sheridan) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe District Schools | Lake Oswego School District West Linn-Wilsonville School District Corvallis School District |
How Much Do Kansas to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 1,472 miles from Kansas to Oregon will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Portland Movers Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,037 | 300 ft3 | $6.79 |
1 Bedroom | $3,033 | 450 ft3 | $6.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,018 | 750 ft3 | $6.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,304 | 1100 ft3 | $6.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,544 | 1600 ft3 | $6.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,772 | 1800 ft3 | $6.54 |
Top Kansas to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Kansas to Oregon