Louisiana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 576 mile interstate move from Louisiana to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder summers), food & health (like Gumbo vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (french creole, plantation vs victorian, neoclassical), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Jambalaya, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in Tennessee is 27.74% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Louisiana to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Louisiana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to Tennessee
- High humidity
- Hurricane risks
- Limited job market
- Higher crime rates
- Milder summers
- Fewer severe storms
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Safer communities
- Less cultural diversity
- Food variety limited
- Fewer local events
- Colder winters
- Cultural richness
- World-renowned cuisine
- Vibrant festivals
- Warm winters
Pros of moving from Louisiana to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risks and moving to Tennessee with fewer severe storms
- Swap the limited job market of Louisiana for diverse employment opportunities in Tennessee
- Get ready for safer communities in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Louisiana to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cultural richness in Louisiana to live with less cultural diversity in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of world-renowned cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited food variety
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant festivals and get used to fewer local events in Tennessee
- Swap warm winters for colder winters
Louisiana vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Jambalaya | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Po'boy | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | 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 Louisiana to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Jambalaya and sumptuous Po'boy, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo 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 Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, Cochon, and Willie Mae's Scotch House. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Rendezvous, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee, compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Louisiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Creole, Plantation | Victorian, Neoclassical |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to water | Mountain views, modern amenities |
- The French Creole and Plantation architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Neoclassical architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to water, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- Tennessee housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in Tennessee is 27.74% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Louisiana | 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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 73Β°F | 86Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62Β°F / 42Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 53 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 | 5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Louisiana to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Louisiana.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 5 degrees colder than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and Tennessee
Comparison | Louisiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 2 - 6% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.52% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Automotive, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 18% more than in Louisiana
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to high in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Louisiana and low in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Louisiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, leans Democratic in urban areas | Primarily Republican, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Highly localized, with significant power in parish governments | Strong state-level governance, with less autonomous local governments |
Religion | Predominantly Catholic, especially in southern parts | Primarily Protestant, with a strong Evangelical presence |
- Louisiana tends to lean mixed and leans Democratic in urban areas in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican, especially in rural areas
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with a strong Evangelical presence
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Catholic, especially in the southern parts
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to Tennessee
Comparison | Louisiana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academy (Baton Rouge) Lake Forest Elementary Charter School (New Orleans) | Lockeland Elementary Design Center (Nashville) New Hope Christian Academy (Memphis) Linden Elementary School (Oak Ridge) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts (Natchitoches) Young Audiences Charter School (Gretna) Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy (Thibodaux) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) West End Middle School (Nashville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (Metairie) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System Community School for Apprenticeship Learning | Williamson County Schools Oak Ridge School District Franklin Special School District |
How Much Do Louisiana to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 576 miles from Louisiana to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- 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 | $1,529 | 300 ft3 | $5.10 |
1 Bedroom | $2,271 | 450 ft3 | $5.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,748 | 750 ft3 | $5.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,441 | 1100 ft3 | $4.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,835 | 1600 ft3 | $4.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,724 | 1800 ft3 | $4.85 |
Top Louisiana to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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