Kentucky to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,271 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs mountain, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and BBQ Mutton, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 173% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Colorado is 54.80% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Kentucky to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Colorado
- Humidity
- Tornado risk
- Limited ski options
- Hot summers
- Dry climate
- Mountain views
- Winter sports
- Cooler temperatures
- Higher cost of living
- Altitude adjustment
- Less greenery
- Pricey Denver rentals
- Family-oriented
- Rich history
- Lush landscapes
- Lower housing costs
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Colorado
- Say goodbye to humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from tornado risk and moving to Colorado with mountain views
- Swap the limited ski options of Kentucky for winter sports in Colorado
- Get ready for cooler temperatures in Colorado
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from family-oriented Kentucky to live with a higher cost of living in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of altitude adjustment
- Time to bid farewell to lush landscapes and get used to less greenery in Colorado
- Swap lower housing costs for pricey Denver rentals
Kentucky vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Mutton | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Hot Browns | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan BBQ | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Kentucky to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful BBQ Mutton and sumptuous Hot Browns, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Weber's Annex, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, and The Brown Hotel. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beast + Bottle, and Root Down.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Colorado
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Mountain, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, privacy | Mountain views, sustainability features |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and sustainability features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Colorado housing costs are 173% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Colorado is 54.80% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Colorado
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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, Snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies, Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F / 23Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Colorado. Colorado gets 26% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 2 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 33 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Colorado
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Mining | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 50% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Colorado will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in CO is 4.63% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kentucky and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Colorado
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Increasingly leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative on national issues | Mixed, with liberal strongholds |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Less religious, diverse religious landscape |
- Kentucky tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as increasingly Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religious and diverse
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Colorado
Comparison | Kentucky | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky Lexington University of Louisville Louisville Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado State University Fort Collins University of Denver Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pikeville Elementary Pikeville Ashland Elementary Ashland Beechwood Elementary Fort Mitchell | Slavens K-8 School Denver Cory Elementary School Denver Parker Core Knowledge Charter School Parker |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Beechwood High School (7-12) Fort Mitchell Highlands Middle School Fort Thomas South Oldham Middle School Crestwood | Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School Fort Collins Lesher Middle School Fort Collins DSA - Denver School of the Arts Denver |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High Louisville Beechwood High School Fort Mitchell North Oldham High School Goshen | Peak to Peak Charter School Lafayette DSA - Denver School of the Arts Denver Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville St. Xavier High School Louisville Louisville Collegiate School Louisville | Colorado Academy Denver Kent Denver School Englewood Regis Jesuit High School Aurora |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Lexington The Sayre School Lexington Louisville Collegiate School Louisville | Colorado Academy Denver Kent Denver School Englewood The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 School Districts | Oldham County Schools La Grange Fayette County Public Schools Lexington Beechwood Independent School District Fort Mitchell | Boulder Valley School District Boulder Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village Littleton Public Schools Littleton |
How Much Do Kentucky to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,271 miles from Kentucky to Colorado 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: 2-8.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,923 | 300 ft3 | $6.41 |
1 Bedroom | $2,862 | 450 ft3 | $6.36 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,733 | 750 ft3 | $6.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,886 | 1100 ft3 | $6.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,936 | 1600 ft3 | $6.21 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,088 | 1800 ft3 | $6.16 |
Top Kentucky to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.