Missouri to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 477 mile interstate move from Missouri to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winter weather vs milder winters), food & health (like St. Louis-style Pizza vs Nashville Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (midwestern traditional vs victorian and colonial revivals), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Missouri), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style Pizza and Kansas City Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Nashville Hot Chicken & Memphis Barbecue
- Tennessee housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Tennessee is 25.96% more expensive than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Missouri to Tennessee movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Tennessee
- Severe winter weather
- Higher property taxes
- Limited job market
- No ocean access
- Milder winters
- Lower property taxes
- Growing job opportunities
- Proximity to the coast
- Varied school quality
- Higher living costs
- More modern history
- Fewer city sights
- Great public schools
- Low cost of living
- Rich cultural history
- St. Louis attractions
Pros of moving from Missouri to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to severe winter weather and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from higher property taxes and moving to Tennessee with lower property taxes
- Swap the limited job market of Missouri for growing job opportunities in Tennessee
- Get ready for proximity to the coast in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Missouri to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from great public schools in Missouri to live with varied school quality in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to rich cultural history and get used to more modern history in Tennessee
- Swap St. Louis attractions for fewer city sights
Missouri vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style Pizza | Nashville Hot Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Kansas City Barbecue | Memphis Barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Cauliflower Wings | Barbecue Jackfruit |
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 Missouri to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious Nashville hot chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Kansas City barbecue and sumptuous toasted ravioli, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis barbecue and BBQ nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the cauliflower wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the barbecue jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Pi Pizzeria, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and The Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Tennessee
Comparison | Missouri | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern Traditional | Victorian and Colonial Revivals |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, family-friendly neighborhoods | Outdoor living spaces, proximity to amenities |
- The Midwestern Traditional architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Colonial Revivals architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly neighborhoods, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor living spaces and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Tennessee is more walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Tennessee housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in Missouri with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Tennessee is 25.96% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Tennessee
Comparison | Missouri | 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, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 89/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/21 | 47/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 53 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Missouri to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 1% more sunshine days than Missouri.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is the same as Missouri at degrees.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 11 more inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Tennessee
Comparison | Missouri | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | Maximum 5.4% | No state income tax |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.19% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Aerospace, Transportation | Healthcare, Automotive, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Relatively Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 1% more than those in Missouri
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in TN is no state income tax compared to a maximum of 5.4% in MO
- The affluence in Tennessee is mixed compared to moderate affluence in Missouri
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to moderate in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is relatively low in Missouri and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Missouri | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed, with urban areas trending Democratic | Conservative, with some urban exceptions |
Religion | Christian majority, diverse religious presence | Christian majority, heavily Evangelical |
- Missouri tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority, heavily Evangelical
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a diverse religious presence
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Tennessee
Comparison | Missouri | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mason Ridge Elementary Parkway; John Thomas School of Discovery Nixa; Kennard Classical Junior Academy St. Louis | Lakeland Elementary School Lakeland; Walnut Grove Elementary Franklin; Clovercroft Elementary Franklin |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis | Meigs Magnet School Nashville; Brentwood Middle School Brentwood; Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Chattanooga |
Top 3 High Schools | Clayton High School Clayton; Kirkwood Senior High Kirkwood; Ladue Horton Watkins High Ladue | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High Nashville; Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High Nashville; Central Magnet School Murfreesboro |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis | Brentwood Academy Brentwood; Baylor School Chattanooga; McCallie School Chattanooga |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | MICDS - Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School St. Louis; The Barstow School Kansas City; The Fulton School at St. Albans St. Albans | Baylor School Chattanooga; Harpeth Hall School Nashville; University School of Nashville Nashville |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District; Ladue School District; Parkway School District | Williamson County Schools; Franklin Special School District; Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do Missouri to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 477 miles from Missouri 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: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,473 | 300 ft3 | $4.91 |
1 Bedroom | $2,187 | 450 ft3 | $4.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,607 | 750 ft3 | $4.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,236 | 1100 ft3 | $4.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,535 | 1600 ft3 | $4.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,387 | 1800 ft3 | $4.66 |
Top Missouri to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Tennessee