North Carolina to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,064 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricanes vs fewer natural disasters), food & health (like Barbecue pork vs Corn), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue pork and Pulled pork, but get your taste buds ready for Corn & Pork tenderloin sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Iowa is 37.62% more affordable than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
North Carolina to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Iowa
- Hurricanes
- Higher humidity
- Crowded beaches
- Urban traffic
- Higher cost of living
- Fewer natural disasters
- Drier climate
- Open spaces
- Less congestion
- Lower cost of living
- Cold, snowy winters
- Fewer historical landmarks
- No ocean coastline
- Less culinary variety
- Quieter nights
- Mild winters
- Rich cultural history
- Coastal access
- Diverse cuisine
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Iowa
- Say goodbye to hurricanes and hello to fewer natural disasters
- Look forward to moving away from higher humidity and moving to Iowa with a drier climate
- Swap the crowded beaches of North Carolina for open spaces in Iowa
- Get ready for less congestion in Iowa
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in North Carolina to live with cold, snowy winters in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to coastal access and get used to no ocean coastline in Iowa
- Swap diverse cuisine for less culinary variety
North Carolina vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue pork | Corn |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork | Pork tenderloin sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Shrimp and grits | Walking taco |
Most popular vegan food | Collard greens | Sweet corn tamale |
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 North Carolina to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic barbecue pork of North Carolina for the equally delicious corn of Iowa. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful pulled pork and sumptuous shrimp and grits, Iowa residents know they have tasty pork tenderloin sandwich and walking taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the collard greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the sweet corn tamale of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and The Chef & the Farmer. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Machine Shed Restaurant, Augie's Draft Room, and Zeke's.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances | Energy efficiency, spacious backyard |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and spacious backyards.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Iowa is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Iowa housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Iowa is 37.62% more affordable than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 86Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 36" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4" | 36" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Carolina to Iowa. Iowa gets 4% fewer sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 1 degree colder than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.25 | 4.63 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85 | 1.29 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.75 | 6.94 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 3% more than those in North Carolina
- The COLI in Iowa is 0% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in IA is 4.63 compared to 5.25 in NC
- The affluence in Iowa is moderate compared to moderate affluence in North Carolina
- The poverty level is low in Iowa compared to moderate poverty in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Carolina and very low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Iowa
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Purple, leaning slightly red | Swing state, varies by election |
Local Politics | Urban areas lean blue, rural areas lean red | Rural areas lean conservative, urban areas more liberal |
Religion | Christianity dominates, with Baptists being significant | Christianity prevalent, with a notable Lutheran presence |
- North Carolina tends to lean purple, leaning slightly red in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that varies by election
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as having Christianity prevalent, with a notable Lutheran presence
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominating, with Baptists being significant
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Iowa
Comparison | North Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Sterling Montessori Academy (Morrisville) Eastover Elementary (Charlotte) | Brookview Elementary (West Des Moines) Van Meter Elementary (Van Meter) Grant Ragan Elementary (Waukee) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jay M. Robinson Middle (Charlotte) Piedmont IB Middle (Charlotte) Ligon Middle (Raleigh) | Ames Middle (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) |
Top 3 High Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Early College at Guilford (Greensboro) | West Senior High (Iowa City) Ames High (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) Durham Academy (Durham) | Phillips Academy (Exeter) The Seven Hills School (Cincinnati) The Blake School (Minneapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Providence Day School (Charlotte) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Waukee Community School District |
How Much Do North Carolina to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,064 miles from North Carolina to Iowa will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,806 | 300 ft3 | $6.02 |
1 Bedroom | $2,686 | 450 ft3 | $5.97 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,439 | 750 ft3 | $5.92 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,456 | 1100 ft3 | $5.87 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,310 | 1600 ft3 | $5.82 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,384 | 1800 ft3 | $5.77 |
Top North Carolina to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Iowa