North Carolina to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 554 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane risk vs lower storm activity), food & health (like Eastern NC Barbecue vs Memphis BBQ), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs victorian, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Eastern NC Barbecue and Pulled pork, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis BBQ & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 4% less expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Tennessee is 2.95% more affordable than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Tennessee movers is Just Move It, LLC
North Carolina to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Tennessee
- Hurricane risk
- Higher taxes
- Busy urban centers
- High humidity
- Seasonal pollen
- Lower storm activity
- No state income tax
- More rural landscapes
- Milder summers
- Less allergy-prone areas
- Landlocked
- Fewer metropolitan areas
- Fewer educational options
- Less diversity
- Fewer historic sites
- Coastal access
- Diverse cities
- Renowned universities
- Cultural diversity
- Historic landmarks
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to hurricane risk and hello to lower storm activity
- Look forward to moving away from higher taxes and moving to Tennessee with no state income tax
- Swap the busy urban centers of North Carolina for more rural landscapes in Tennessee
- Get ready for milder summers in Tennessee
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal access in North Carolina to live landlocked in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cities and have to settle for the con of fewer metropolitan areas
- Time to bid farewell to renowned universities and get used to fewer educational options in Tennessee
- Swap cultural diversity for less diversity
North Carolina vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Eastern NC Barbecue | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato Pie | BBQ 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 North Carolina to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Eastern NC Barbecue of North Carolina for the equally delicious Memphis BBQ of Tennessee. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Sweet Potato Pie they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Skylight Inn BBQ, Cheyenne's Diner, and Lexington Barbecue. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | North Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Victorian, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, outdoor spaces | Hardwood floors, historic details |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Ranch architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and outdoor spaces, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and historic details.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Tennessee is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Tennessee is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Tennessee housing costs are 4% less expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to North Carolina's $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Tennessee is 2.95% more affordable than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | North Carolina | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good-Fair | Good-Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85-65Β°F | 87-66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50-30Β°F | 49-29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 53" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4-8" | 5-12" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Carolina to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 3% fewer sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and earthquakes in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 2 degrees warmer than North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are NaN degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 3 more inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | North Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.84% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.75% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Technology, Healthcare | Automotive, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Comfortable | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Manageable | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 3% less than in North Carolina
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to comfortable in North Carolina
- The poverty level is higher in Tennessee compared to moderate in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in North Carolina and noticeable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Comparison | North Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, with a mix of Democratic and Republican support | Lean heavily Republican |
Local Politics | Varies significantly between urban and rural areas | Consistently conservative across most counties |
Religion | Protestant Christian majority, significant Catholic and non-religious populations | Protestant Christian majority, with a strong presence of Evangelical Protestants |
- North Carolina tends to lean swing state, with a mix of Democratic and Republican support in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as leaning heavily Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as a Protestant Christian majority, with a strong presence of Evangelical Protestants
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant Christian majority, with significant Catholic and non-religious populations
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Tennessee
Comparison | North Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Endhaven Elementary School (Charlotte) Morrisville Elementary School (Morrisville) Davis Drive Elementary School (Cary) | Lipscomb Elementary School (Brentwood) Percy Priest Elementary School (Nashville) New Hope Elementary School (McDonald) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) Davis Drive Middle School (Cary) Carnage Middle School (Raleigh) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Houston Middle School (Germantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | Phillips Academy (Greensboro) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) East Chapel Hill High School (Chapel Hill) | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Providence Day School (Charlotte) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Carolina Day School (Asheville) Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) | University School of Nashville (Nashville) Ensworth School (Nashville) Knoxville Catholic High School (Knoxville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Wake County Public School System | Williamson County Schools Oak Ridge City Schools Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do North Carolina to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 554 miles from North Carolina to Tennessee 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: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,517 | 300 ft3 | $5.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,252 | 450 ft3 | $5.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,716 | 750 ft3 | $4.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,396 | 1100 ft3 | $4.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,768 | 1600 ft3 | $4.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,649 | 1800 ft3 | $4.81 |
Top North Carolina to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Tennessee