Michigan to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 708 mile interstate move from Michigan to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Pasties vs Memphis BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs victorian, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pasties and Coney Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis BBQ & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in Tennessee is 15.90% more expensive than in Michigan
- Moving from Michigan to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Michigan to Tennessee movers is Pro-Low Moving
Top Michigan to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pro-Low Moving
Best moving company overall for Michigan to Tennessee

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC

Boundless Moving & Storage
Michigan to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- High state taxes
- Poor road conditions
- Rust Belt economy
- Limited barbecue choices
- Mild winters
- No state income tax
- Better maintained roads
- Growing job market
- Rich barbecue culture
- No large bodies of water
- Hot, humid summers
- Fewer top-ranked schools
- Different foliage
- Less cultural diversity
- Great Lakes access
- Four distinct seasons
- Renowned universities
- Autumn scenery
- Diverse cultural scene
Pros of moving from Michigan to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from high state taxes and moving to Tennessee with no state income tax
- Swap the poor road conditions of Michigan for better maintained roads in Tennessee
- Get ready for a growing job market in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Michigan to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from Great Lakes access in Michigan to live with no large bodies of water in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of four distinct seasons and have to settle for the con of hot, humid summers
- Time to bid farewell to renowned universities and get used to fewer top-ranked schools in Tennessee
- Swap autumn scenery for different foliage
Michigan vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pasties | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Coney Dog | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Coney Dogs | BBQ Jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants |
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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 Michigan to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Pasties of Michigan for the equally delicious Memphis BBQ of Tennessee. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Coney Dog and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and BBQ Ribs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Coney Dogs they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like American Coney Island, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Slows Bar BQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Husk Nashville.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and Tennessee
Comparison | Michigan | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside views, Acreage | Mountain views, Historical significance |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside views and acreage, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and historical significance.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Tennessee is less walkable than Michigan.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Michigan.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Michigan.
- Tennessee housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in Tennessee is 15.90% more expensive than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and Tennessee
Comparison | Michigan | 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 | Snowstorms, Freezing rain | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79Β°F / 58Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 18Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32.76" | 53.68" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.66" | 5.02" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 22% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and freezing rain in Michigan, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 10 degrees warmer than in Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 20.9 more inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and Tennessee
Comparison | Michigan | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.54% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 3% less than in Michigan
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Michigan
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Michigan
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to moderate in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Michigan and low in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Michigan | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leaning Democratic in recent elections | Conservative; traditionally Republican |
Local Politics | Varies; urban areas skew Democratic, rural areas skew Republican | Largely Republican, with some Democratic strongholds in major cities |
Religion | Christian predominance, with diverse religious communities | Strongly Christian, with a significant evangelical presence |
- Michigan tends to lean mixed, leaning Democratic in recent elections in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as conservative, traditionally Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as strongly Christian, with a significant evangelical presence
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian predominance, with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Michigan to Tennessee
Comparison | Michigan | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee Technological University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bates Elementary (Dexter) Musson Elementary (Rochester) Spring Mill Elementary (Birmingham) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Clovercroft Elementary (Franklin) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Boulan Park Middle (Troy) Meads Mill Middle (Northville) West Middle (Rochester) | Brentwood Middle (Brentwood) Woodland Middle (Brentwood) Meigs Magnet Middle (Nashville) |
Top 3 High Schools | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) Troy High (Troy) Rochester Adams High (Rochester Hills) | Hume-Fogg Academic High (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook (Bloomfield Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Baylor School (Chattanooga) Ensworth School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) | Webb School (Knoxville) Baylor School (Chattanooga) Harding Academy (Nashville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Okemos Public Schools East Grand Rapids Public Schools Forest Hills Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District |
How Much Do Michigan to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 708 miles from Michigan 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: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,604 | 300 ft3 | $5.35 |
1 Bedroom | $2,383 | 450 ft3 | $5.30 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,935 | 750 ft3 | $5.25 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,716 | 1100 ft3 | $5.20 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,234 | 1600 ft3 | $5.15 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,173 | 1800 ft3 | $5.10 |