Kentucky to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 294 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs victorian, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kentucky), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Pulled Pork
- Tennessee housing costs are 58% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Tennessee is 28.41% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Kentucky to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Tennessee
- Severe winters
- Higher income tax
- Less diverse cities
- Limited job opportunities
- Fewer music festivals
- Milder winters
- No state income tax
- Vibrant urban life
- Growing job market
- Music-rich culture
- Busier city life
- Higher housing costs
- Less focus on bourbon
- More chain restaurants
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- Rural tranquility
- Lower cost of living
- Strong bourbon culture
- Distinct local cuisine
- Calm pace of life
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to severe winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from higher income tax and moving to Tennessee with no state income tax
- Swap the less diverse cities of Kentucky for vibrant urban life in Tennessee
- Get ready for a growing job market in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rural tranquility in Kentucky to live with busier city life in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher housing costs
- Time to bid farewell to a strong bourbon culture and get used to less focus on bourbon in Tennessee
- Swap distinct local cuisine for more chain restaurants
Kentucky vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Smoked Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | 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 Kentucky to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Smoked Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit 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 Kentucky eateries like Claudia Sanders Dinner House, The Brown Hotel, and Mammy's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Charles Vergos' Rendezvous, The Bar-B-Q Shop, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Tennessee
Comparison | Kentucky | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Victorian, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large Yards, Historic Homes | Modern Amenities, Proximity to Nature |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Ranch architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and historic homes, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like modern amenities and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes, as Tennessee is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike, because Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Tennessee housing costs are 58% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Tennessee is 28.41% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Tennessee
Comparison | Kentucky | 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, floods | Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42Β°F / 23Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48 | 53 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 7% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Tennessee 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 tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 2 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 5 more inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Tennessee
Comparison | Kentucky | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83 | 0.64 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6 | 7 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Relatively High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 10% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is relatively high compared to moderate in Kentucky
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to high in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and low in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Kentucky | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Divided between urban (liberal) and rural (conservative) areas | Strong conservative lean, even in some urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, Baptist strong presence | Christianity predominant, Evangelical influence notable |
- Kentucky tends to lean moderately Conservative in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity with notable Evangelical influence
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a strong Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Tennessee
Comparison | Kentucky | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky (Lexington) University of Louisville (Louisville) Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green) | University of Tennessee (Knoxville) Vanderbilt University (Nashville) Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville) |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Greathouse/Shryock Traditional (Louisville) Beechwood Elementary (Fort Mitchell) | Lockeland Elementary Design Center (Nashville) New Hope Christian Academy (Memphis) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beechwood Middle School (Fort Mitchell) Highlands Middle School (Fort Thomas) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Houston Middle School (Germantown) East Hamilton Middle/High School (Ooltewah) |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) The School for Creative and Performing Arts (Nashville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High (Lexington) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Girls Preparatory School (Chattanooga) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Boone County Schools | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 294 miles from Kentucky to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- 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 | $1,369 | 300 ft3 | $4.56 |
1 Bedroom | $2,031 | 450 ft3 | $4.51 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,348 | 750 ft3 | $4.46 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,855 | 1100 ft3 | $4.41 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,982 | 1600 ft3 | $4.36 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,765 | 1800 ft3 | $4.31 |
Top Kentucky to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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