Mississippi to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 593 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder summer temperatures), food & health (like Catfish vs Kentucky Hot Brown), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kentucky), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Pulled pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Kentucky Hot Brown & Fried chicken
- Kentucky housing costs are 13% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Kentucky is 4.37% more affordable than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Kentucky movers is From Here to There
Mississippi to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Kentucky
- High humidity
- Flat landscapes
- Limited horse racing
- Fewer bourbon distilleries
- Milder summer temperatures
- Picturesque rolling hills
- Kentucky Derby excitement
- Bourbon Trail experiences
- Different food specialties
- More urban areas
- Different cultural focus
- Colder winters
- Southern cuisine
- Close-knit communities
- Rich blues music
- Lush countryside
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Kentucky with picturesque rolling hills
- Swap the limited horse racing of Mississippi for Kentucky Derby excitement in Kentucky
- Get ready for Bourbon Trail experiences in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern cuisine in Mississippi to live with different food specialties in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle with the con of more urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to rich blues music and get used to a different cultural focus in Kentucky
- Swap lush countryside for colder winters
Mississippi vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Kentucky Hot Brown |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork BBQ | Fried chicken |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Burgoo |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Roasted root vegetables |
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 Mississippi to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Kentucky Hot Brown of Kentucky. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Tamales, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Burgoo to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Roasted Root Vegetables of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like Mayflower Cafe, Doe's Eat Place, and City Grocery. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Holly Hill Inn, and Mammy's Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Kentucky
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Yards, Privacy | Proximity to Parks, Historic Locations |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and privacy, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to parks and historic locations.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kentucky is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kentucky is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Kentucky has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Kentucky housing costs are 13% more expensive than they are in Mississippi with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Kentucky is 4.37% more affordable than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Kentucky
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F/71Β°F | 87Β°F/67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 58Β°F/38Β°F | 43Β°F/23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 10% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Kentucky has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 4 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 15 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 9 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Kentucky
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81% | 0.86% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Logistics |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Manageable | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 13% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in Kentucky is 5% lower than what you are used to in Mississippi
- There is no change in state income tax between Mississippi and Kentucky
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to modest in Mississippi
- The poverty level is noticeable in Kentucky compared to significant in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Mississippi and low in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally conservative, with a strong Republican presence | Also leans conservative, but with more diverse political representation in urban areas |
Local Politics | Local policies often focus on economic development and social issues | Emphasis on coal industry, healthcare, and education at the local level |
Religion | Highly religious, with a significant Baptist population (Mississippi Baptist) | Religious diversity but with a strong Baptist and Methodist presence |
- Mississippi tends to lean traditionally conservative, with a strong Republican presence in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as also leaning conservative, but with more diverse political representation in urban areas
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse, but with a strong Baptist and Methodist presence
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, with a significant Baptist population
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Kentucky
Comparison | Mississippi | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Elementary (Madison) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) Madison Station Elementary (Madison) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional (Louisville) Brandeis Elementary (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle (Madison) Clinton Junior High (Clinton) Northwest Rankin Middle (Flowood) | Meyzeek Middle School (Louisville) Beaumont Middle (Lexington) South Oldham Middle (Crestwood) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Madison Central (Madison) Ocean Springs High (Ocean Springs) Lewisburg High (Olive Branch) | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highland High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory (Jackson) St. Andrew's Episcopal (Ridgeland) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Jackson Academy (Jackson) Heritage Academy (Columbus) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | The Lexington School (Lexington) The Sayre School (Lexington) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Clinton Public School District Rankin County School District | Oldham County Schools Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools |
How Much Do Mississippi to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 593 miles from Mississippi to Kentucky 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: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,539 | 300 ft3 | $5.13 |
1 Bedroom | $2,286 | 450 ft3 | $5.08 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,772 | 750 ft3 | $5.03 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,477 | 1100 ft3 | $4.98 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,886 | 1600 ft3 | $4.93 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,782 | 1800 ft3 | $4.88 |
Top Mississippi to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

From Here to There
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to Kentucky