North Carolina to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,719 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like summer humidity vs cooler summer temps), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial revival, craftsman vs mountain rustic, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern-style BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Colorado is 17% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
North Carolina to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Colorado
- Summer humidity
- Hurricane threats
- Flat terrain
- Allergies from pollen
- Cooler summer temps
- Fewer severe storms
- Mountainous landscapes
- Cleaner mountain air
- No coastal beaches
- Colder winter temps
- Higher elevation
- Less cultural diversity
- Beach access
- Milder winters
- Krispy Kreme HQ
- Cultural events
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Colorado
- Say goodbye to summer humidity and hello to cooler summer temps
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane threats and moving to Colorado with fewer severe storms
- Swap the flat terrain of North Carolina for mountainous landscapes in Colorado
- Get ready for cleaner mountain air in Colorado
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beach access in North Carolina to live with no coastal beaches in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of milder winters and have to settle for the con of colder winter temps
- Time to bid farewell to Krispy Kreme HQ and get used to higher elevation in Colorado
- Swap cultural events for less cultural diversity
North Carolina vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern-style BBQ | Bison burgers |
Most popular street food item | BBQ sandwiches | Breakfast burritos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ jackfruit | Quinoa salads |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 North Carolina to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern-style BBQ and sumptuous BBQ sandwiches, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison burgers and Breakfast burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa salads of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Skylight Inn BBQ, Lexington Barbecue, and The Pit. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beauregard's Saloon, and Frasca Food and Wine.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Colorado
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival, Craftsman | Mountain Rustic, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to schools | Mountain views, eco-friendly features |
- The Colonial Revival and Craftsman architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Rustic and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to schools, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and eco-friendly amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Colorado housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Colorado is 17% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Colorado
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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, floods | Snowstorms, wildfires |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate to Poor (especially during wildfire season) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 17 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Carolina to Colorado. Colorado gets 15% more sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and wildfires in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 2 degrees colder than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 33 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Colorado
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.77% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Finance | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Noticeable | Manageable |
Homelessness | Problematic | Persisting |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 32% more than in North Carolina
- The COLI in Colorado is 3% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 5.25% in NC
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is manageable in Colorado compared to noticeable in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is problematic in North Carolina and persisting in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Colorado
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly Republican in recent elections | Largely Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Moderate with a strong influence in rural areas | Progressive, particularly in cities like Denver and Boulder |
Religion | Christianity predominantly, Southern Baptist & Methodist strongholds | Less religiously affiliated, diverse religious communities |
- North Carolina tends to lean mixed and leans slightly Republican in recent elections in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as largely Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with diverse religious communities
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with strongholds of Southern Baptist and Methodist
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Colorado
Comparison | North Carolina | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | UNC Chapel Hill NC State Duke University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morrisville Elementary - Morrisville Endhaven Elementary - Charlotte Brooks Global Studies - Greensboro | High Peaks Elementary - Boulder Cory Elementary - Denver Parker Core Knowledge - Parker |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jayne Ellen Middle - Raleigh Carmel Middle - Charlotte Piedmont IB Middle - Charlotte | Lesher Middle - Fort Collins Challenge School - Denver Summit Middle Charter - Boulder |
Top 3 High Schools | Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics - Durham Ardrey Kell High - Charlotte | Denver School of the Arts - Denver Fairview High School - Boulder Cherry Creek High School - Greenwood Village |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Country Day - Charlotte Durham Academy - Durham Ravenscroft School - Raleigh | Kent Denver School - Englewood Colorado Academy - Denver The Fountain Valley School of Colorado - Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charlotte Latin School - Charlotte Cary Academy - Cary Greensboro Day School - Greensboro | Colorado Rocky Mountain School - Carbondale Dawson School - Lafayette Vail Mountain School - Vail |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Littleton Public Schools |
How Much Do North Carolina to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,719 miles from North Carolina to Colorado will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,177 | 300 ft3 | $7.26 |
1 Bedroom | $3,243 | 450 ft3 | $7.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,368 | 750 ft3 | $7.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,817 | 1100 ft3 | $7.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,291 | 1600 ft3 | $7.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,612 | 1800 ft3 | $7.01 |
Top North Carolina to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Colorado