Minnesota to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,614 mile interstate move from Minnesota to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like frigid winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Hotdish vs Dungeness Crab), real estate & housing (craftsman, cape cod vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Wild Rice and Chicken Soup, but get your taste buds ready for Dungeness Crab & Grilled Salmon
- Oregon housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in Oregon is 5.95% more expensive than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to Oregon will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Minnesota to Oregon movers is Metro Movers
Minnesota to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to Oregon
- Frigid winters
- Flat terrain
- Tornadoes
- Mild winters
- Scenic landscapes
- Less severe weather
- High cost of living
- Rainy weather
- Higher taxes
- Numerous lakes
- Friendly locals
- Low crime rates
Pros of moving from Minnesota to Oregon
- Say goodbye to frigid winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from flat terrain and moving to Oregon with scenic landscapes
- Swap the tornadoes of Minnesota for less severe weather in Oregon
Cons of moving from Minnesota to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from numerous lakes in Minnesota to live with a high cost of living in Oregon
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly locals and have to settle for the con of rainy weather
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher taxes in Oregon
Minnesota vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Dungeness Crab |
Most popular meat dish | Wild Rice and Chicken Soup | Grilled Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Jucy Lucy | Food Carts offering a variety of foods |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burgers | Tempeh Reubens |
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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Dungeness Crab of Oregon. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Wild Rice and Chicken Soup & sumptuous Jucy Lucy, Oregon residents know they have tasty Grilled Salmon and Food Carts offering a variety of foods to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reubens of Oregon. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Mattβs Bar, Spoon and Stable, and The Bachelor Farmer. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Le Pigeon, Pok Pok, and Screen Door.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon, compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and Oregon
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | "Lake access", "open concept" | "Sustainability", "eco-friendly" |
- The Craftsman and Cape Cod architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference 'lake access' and 'open concept', Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like 'sustainability' and 'eco-friendly'.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Oregon is more walkable than Minnesota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Oregon is more bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- Oregon has more of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- Oregon housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to Minnesotaβs $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in Oregon is 5.95% more expensive than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and Oregon
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Floods, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 81Β°F / 51Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 23Β°F / 7Β°F | 47Β°F / 33Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28-32" | 36-40" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 45-55" | 5-10" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Minnesota to Oregon. Oregon gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Minnesota.
- Oregon has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota, but be on the lookout for potential floods and wildfires in Oregon.
- The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 2 degrees colder than in Minnesota.
- The average winter lows are 26 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oregon. Oregon receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and Oregon
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 5.35 - 9.85 | 4.75 - 9.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.08 | 0.90 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46 | 0.00 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Health Care | Agriculture, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 8% less than in Minnesota
- The COLI in Oregon will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- The state income tax in OR is 4.75% to 9.9% compared to 5.35% to 9.85% in MN
- The affluence in Oregon is varied compared to moderate in Minnesota
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to low in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Minnesota and high in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. Oregon
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a lean towards progressive policies in urban areas | Progressive, particularly in urban areas like Portland and Eugene |
Local Politics | Focus on healthcare, education, and environmental protection | Strong emphasis on environmental legislation, healthcare, and social justice |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Lutheran and Catholic presence | Less religiously affiliated; higher percentage of non-religious residents |
- Minnesota tends to lean mixed, with a lean towards progressive policies in urban areas in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as progressive, particularly in urban areas like Portland and Eugene
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and has a higher percentage of non-religious residents
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Lutheran and Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to Oregon
Comparison | Minnesota | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota Twin Cities; University of St. Thomas; Minnesota State University Mankato | University of Oregon Eugene; Oregon State University Corvallis; Portland State University Portland |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Creekside Elementary Chanhassen; Greenwood Elementary Plymouth; Deephaven Elementary Wayzata | Ainsworth Elementary Portland; Findley Elementary Beaverton; Jacob Wismer Elementary Portland |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata Central Middle School Plymouth; Minnetonka Middle School East Minnetonka; Eastview Middle School Apple Valley | Lake Oswego Junior High Lake Oswego; Stoller Middle School Portland; Cedar Park Middle School Beaverton |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wayzata High School Plymouth; Eden Prairie High School Eden Prairie; Edina High School Edina | International School of Beaverton Beaverton; School of Science & Technology Beaverton; Lake Oswego High School Lake Oswego |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School Minneapolis; The Blake School Minneapolis; St. Paul Academy and Summit School St. Paul | Catlin Gabel School Portland; Oregon Episcopal School Portland; St. Mary's Academy Portland |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Blake School Minneapolis; Breck School Minneapolis; Mounds Park Academy St. Paul | Oregon Episcopal School Portland; Catlin Gabel School Portland; Delphian School Sheridan |
Top 3 School Districts | Minnetonka Public School District Wayzata Public Schools Eden Prairie Schools | Lake Oswego School District Beaverton School District West Linn-Wilsonville School District |
How Much Do Minnesota to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 1,614 miles from Minnesota to Oregon will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,118 | 300 ft3 | $7.06 |
1 Bedroom | $3,154 | 450 ft3 | $7.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,219 | 750 ft3 | $6.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,599 | 1100 ft3 | $6.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,973 | 1600 ft3 | $6.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,255 | 1800 ft3 | $6.81 |
Top Minnesota to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.