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Mississippi to Kentucky Moving Guide

Updated June 12, 2025

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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

ConsMississippi iconMississippi
  • High humidity
  • Flat landscapes
  • Limited horse racing
  • Fewer bourbon distilleries
ProsKentucky iconKentucky
  • Milder summer temperatures
  • Picturesque rolling hills
  • Kentucky Derby excitement
  • Bourbon Trail experiences

Kentucky iconKentucky
  • Different food specialties
  • More urban areas
  • Different cultural focus
  • Colder winters
Mississippi iconMississippi
  • 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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
Most iconic local food itemCatfishKentucky Hot Brown
Most popular meat dishPulled pork BBQFried chicken
Most popular street food itemTamalesBurgoo
Most popular vegan foodOkra stewRoasted root vegetables
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Mayflower Cafe
  • Doe's Eat Place
  • City Grocery
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
Typical Architecture StyleColonial, VictorianColonial, Craftsman
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingSpacious Yards, PrivacyProximity 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 Mississippi’s $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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersHurricanes, TornadoesTornadoes, Floods
Air QualityGoodModerate
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)91Β°F/71Β°F87Β°F/67Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)58Β°F/38Β°F43Β°F/23Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)5950
Annual Snowfall (Inches)122
  • 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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
Avg. Household Income$52,719$59,341
Cost of Living Index92.187.8
State Income Tax5%5%
Avg. Property Tax0.81%0.86%
Avg. Sales Tax7%6%
Top 3 IndustriesAgriculture, Manufacturing, RetailManufacturing, Healthcare, Logistics
AffluenceModestModerate
PovertySignificantNoticeable
HomelessnessManageableLow
  • 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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
Political Make-upTraditionally conservative, with a strong Republican presenceAlso leans conservative, but with more diverse political representation in urban areas
Local PoliticsLocal policies often focus on economic development and social issuesEmphasis on coal industry, healthcare, and education at the local level
ReligionHighly 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

ComparisonMississippiKentucky
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 SchoolsMannsdale Elementary (Madison)
Eastside Elementary (Clinton)
Madison Station Elementary (Madison)
Greathouse/Shryock Traditional (Louisville)
Brandeis Elementary (Louisville)
Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington)
Top 3 Middle SchoolsMadison 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 SchoolsMadison 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 schoolsJackson 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 schoolsJackson 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 DistrictsMadison 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 - $5,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,539300 ft3$5.13
1 Bedroom$2,286450 ft3$5.08
2 Bedrooms$3,772750 ft3$5.03
3 Bedrooms$5,4771100 ft3$4.98
4 Bedrooms$7,8861600 ft3$4.93
5+ Bedrooms$8,7821800 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.

TOP PICK
From Here to There featured image

From Here to There

Best moving company overall for Mississippi to Kentucky

9.16/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Smooth Move Relocation Services featured image

Smooth Move Relocation Services

9.10/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
MoveMint - Pack & Move

MoveMint - Pack & Move

8.59/10
FabulousView details