Minnesota to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 745 mile interstate move from Minnesota to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Hotdish vs Pork Tenderloin Sandwich), real estate & housing (prairie style, split-level vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Minnesota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Pork Tenderloin Sandwich & Beef and Noodles
- Indiana housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in Indiana is 19.02% more affordable than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to Indiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Minnesota to Indiana movers is Metro Movers
Minnesota to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to Indiana
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Dense urban areas
- Frosty winds
- Milder climate
- Lower living expenses
- Quieter suburbs
- Less wind chill
- Limited diversity
- Fewer cultural hubs
- Smaller park systems
- Education variability
- Cultural diversity
- Renowned museums
- Abundant outdoor spaces
- Quality education
Pros of moving from Minnesota to Indiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a high cost of living and moving to Indiana with lower living expenses
- Swap the dense urban areas of Minnesota for the quieter suburbs in Indiana
- Get ready for less wind chill in Indiana
Cons of moving from Minnesota to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in Minnesota to live with limited diversity in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of renowned museums and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural hubs
- Time to bid farewell to abundant outdoor spaces and get used to smaller park systems in Indiana
- Swap quality education for educational variability
Minnesota vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Beef and Noodles |
Most popular street food item | Mini Donuts | Elephant Ear |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Seitan Steak |
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 Minnesota to Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Mini Donuts, Indiana residents know they have tasty Beef and Noodles and Elephant Ear to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steak of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Hell's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, The Tamale Place, and Gray Brothers Cafeteria.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and Indiana
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie Style, Split-level | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, Natural light | Historic homes, Large yards |
- The Prairie Style and Split-level architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and natural light, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and large yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Indiana is less walkable than Minnesota.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Indiana is less bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- Indiana has less of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- Indiana housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Minnesotaβs $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in Indiana is 19.02% more affordable than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and Indiana
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 7Β°F | 36Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30.2" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 54" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Minnesota to Indiana. Indiana gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Minnesota.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in Minnesota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Indiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 2 degrees warmer than in Minnesota.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 11.8 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and Indiana
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 5.35-9.85% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.12% | 0.87% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.875% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 19% less than in Minnesota
- The COLI in Indiana will be 6% lower than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23% compared to 5.35% to 9.85% in MN
- The affluence in Indiana is average compared to moderate in Minnesota
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to low in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Minnesota and moderate in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. Indiana
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Liberal | Conservative |
Local Politics | Diverse urban and rural policies | More uniform conservative policies |
Religion | Lutheran, Catholic | Evangelical Protestant, Catholic |
- Minnesota tends to lean moderately Liberal in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as evangelical Protestant and Catholic
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Lutheran and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to Indiana
Comparison | Minnesota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota Macalester College Carleton College | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Groveland Elementary (Minnetonka) Creek Valley Elementary (Edina) Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) | Signature School (Evansville) Northpoint Elementary School (Granger) Smoky Row Elementary (Carmel) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata East Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Eden Prairie Central Middle School (Eden Prairie) | West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School (West Lafayette) Brown County Junior High School (Nashville) Sidney & Lois Eskenazi School of Art (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Edina High School (Edina) Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) | Carmel High School (Carmel) Fishers High School (Fishers) Zionsville Community High School (Zionsville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy (Saint Paul) | Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Mounds Park Academy (Saint Paul) The International School of Minnesota (Eden Prairie) Breck School (Minneapolis) | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) |
Top 3 School Districts | Minnetonka Public Schools Edina Public Schools Wayzata Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
How Much Do Minnesota to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 745 miles from Minnesota to Indiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,625 | 300 ft3 | $5.42 |
1 Bedroom | $2,415 | 450 ft3 | $5.37 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,987 | 750 ft3 | $5.32 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,793 | 1100 ft3 | $5.27 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,346 | 1600 ft3 | $5.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,299 | 1800 ft3 | $5.17 |
Top Minnesota to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.