Kansas to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 847 mile interstate move from Kansas to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Chicken & Pulled Pork
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Tennessee is 53.22% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Kansas to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- Flat landscapes
- Limited job market
- Few cultural events
- Remote location
- Milder climate
- Scenic mountains
- Diverse opportunities
- Vibrant music scene
- Central accessibility
- Higher population density
- Higher cost of living
- More crowded roads
- Varied school quality
- Less tight-knit neighborhoods
- Peaceful rural life
- Affordable housing
- Low traffic congestion
- Good public schools
- Strong local community
Pros of moving from Kansas to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Tennessee with scenic mountains
- Swap the limited job market of Kansas for diverse opportunities in Tennessee
- Get ready for a vibrant music scene in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Kansas to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a peaceful rural life in Kansas to live with a higher population density in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable housing and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to low traffic congestion and get used to more crowded roads in Tennessee
- Swap good public schools for varied school quality
Kansas vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Hot Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwich | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | BBQ Tofu |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous BBQ Sandwich, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and BBQ Nachos 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 BBQ Tofu of Tennessee. 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 Slap's BBQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie Bβs Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Kansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, basements | Open floor plans, scenic views |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and basements, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like open floor plans and scenic views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Tennessee is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Tennessee is 53.22% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Kansas | 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, storms | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/68 | 88/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42/205 | 49/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28-40 | 50-60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 10% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 1 degree colder than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 17.5 degrees colder than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 22 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Tennessee
Comparison | Kansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.70% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.37% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Aviation, Manufacturing | Automotive, Tourism, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 5% less than in Kansas
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Kansas
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Kansas
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to moderate in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and low in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Kansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative, with pockets of liberal influence in urban areas | Strongly conservative, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Diverse; mix of Republican and Democratic leadership in local governments | Largely Republican-dominated at both state and local levels |
Religion | Christian majority, with Protestant and Catholic as major denominations | Heavily Christian, with a significant Protestant majority including a strong evangelical presence |
- Kansas tends to lean conservative, with pockets of liberal influence in urban areas in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly conservative, especially in rural areas
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as heavily Christian, with a significant Protestant majority including a strong evangelical presence
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with Protestant and Catholic as major denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Tennessee
Comparison | Kansas | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Tennessee Tennessee State University Vanderbilt University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meadowbrook Elementary Prairie Village; Corinth Elementary Leawood; Briarwood Elementary Overland Park | Lockeland Elementary Design Center Nashville; Discovery School at Reeves Rogers Murfreesboro; New Hope Academy Franklin |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle School Leawood; Indian Hills Middle School Prairie Village; Overland Trail Middle School Overland Park | Brentwood Middle School Brentwood; Robert E. Ellis Middle Hendersonville; Meigs Magnet Middle School Nashville |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High School Overland Park; Shawnee Mission East High School Prairie Village; Olathe Northwest High School Olathe | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School Nashville; Central Magnet School Murfreesboro; Ravenwood High School Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; Bishop Miege High School Roeland Park; St. Thomas Aquinas High School Overland Park | Baylor School Chattanooga; Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville; The McCallie School Chattanooga |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Independent School Wichita; Wichita Collegiate School Wichita; Cair Paravel Latin School Topeka | Webb School of Knoxville Knoxville; The University School of Nashville Nashville; Franklin Road Academy Nashville |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley Unified School District Overland Park; Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission; Olathe District Schools Olathe | Williamson County Schools Franklin; Metro Nashville Public Schools Nashville; Knoxville City Schools Knoxville |
How Much Do Kansas to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 847 miles from Kansas to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,683 | 300 ft3 | $5.61 |
1 Bedroom | $2,502 | 450 ft3 | $5.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,132 | 750 ft3 | $5.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,005 | 1100 ft3 | $5.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,654 | 1600 ft3 | $5.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,646 | 1800 ft3 | $5.36 |
Top Kansas to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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