Kentucky to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 1,264 mile interstate move from Kentucky to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Knoephla Soup), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Knoephla Soup & Bison Steak
- North Dakota housing costs are 26% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in North Dakota is 22.04% more affordable than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to North Dakota movers is Two Men and a Truck
Kentucky to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to North Dakota
- Humid summers
- Higher allergy rates
- Limited job growth
- Traffic congestion
- Higher crime rates
- Cooler climate
- Cleaner air
- Thriving job market
- Less crowded
- Safer cities
- Harsh winters
- Fewer cultural events
- Smaller urban areas
- Limited dining variety
- Flat landscapes
- Mild winters
- Rich cultural heritage
- Vibrant cities like Louisville
- Diverse cuisine options
- Extensive forests
Pros of moving from Kentucky to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from higher allergy rates and moving to North Dakota with cleaner air
- Swap the limited job growth of Kentucky for a thriving job market in North Dakota
- Get ready for fewer crowds in North Dakota
Cons of moving from Kentucky to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Kentucky to live with harsh winters in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural heritage and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural events
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant cities like Louisville and get used to smaller urban areas in North Dakota
- Swap diverse cuisine options for a limited dining variety
Kentucky vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Knoephla Soup |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Beer Cheese | Fleischkuekle |
Most popular vegan food | Bourbon BBQ Tofu | Lentil Burgers |
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 North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Knoephla Soup of North Dakota. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Beer Cheese, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Fleischkuekle to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Bourbon BBQ Tofu they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Burgers of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like The Brown Hotel, KFC, and Ramsi's Cafe on the World. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and HoDo Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in North Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and North Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, Open floor plans | Energy efficiency, Spacious garages |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and open floor plans, North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and spacious garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Dakota is less walkable than Kentucky.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; North Dakota is less bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- North Dakota housing costs are 26% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased 18% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in North Dakota is 22.04% more affordable than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and North Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 82Β°F / 57Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 43Β°F / 23Β°F | 23Β°F / 2Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 18" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11" | 48" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 3% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- North Dakota has similar humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in North Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 5 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 21 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 32 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and North Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 2.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 1.05% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Agriculture, Mining, Energy |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Visible | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 21% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in North Dakota will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in ND is 2.9% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in North Dakota is higher compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is moderate in North Dakota compared to significant poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Kentucky and low in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. North Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed, with both conservative and liberal leadership in different areas | Largely conservative leadership |
Religion | Christian, with a significant Baptist presence | Christian, predominantly Catholic and Lutheran |
- Kentucky tends to lean moderately conservative in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as Christian, predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian, with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to North Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Eastern Kentucky University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Poe Elementary Louisville Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Louisville Mann Elementary Union | Lincoln Elementary Bismarck Freedom Elementary West Fargo Longfellow Elementary Fargo |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle Louisville Beaumont Middle Lexington Highlands Middle Fort Thomas | Ben Franklin Middle Fargo Horizon Middle Bismarck Discovery Middle Fargo |
Top 3 High Schools | duPont Manual High Louisville Highlands High Fort Thomas Beechwood High Fort Mitchell | Central High Grand Forks Fargo North High Fargo Century High Bismarck |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville St. Xavier High Louisville Trinity High Louisville | Shanley High Fargo St. Mary's Central High Bismarck Oak Grove Lutheran School Fargo |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Lexington Christian Academy of Louisville Louisville Sayre School Lexington | Oak Grove Lutheran School Fargo Shiloh Christian School Bismarck Trinity Christian School Williston |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Ft. Thomas Independent Schools | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,264 miles from Kentucky to North Dakota 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,919 | 300 ft3 | $6.40 |
1 Bedroom | $2,856 | 450 ft3 | $6.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,723 | 750 ft3 | $6.30 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,872 | 1100 ft3 | $6.25 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,915 | 1600 ft3 | $6.20 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,064 | 1800 ft3 | $6.15 |
Top Kentucky to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Two Men and a Truck
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to North Dakota