North Dakota to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 794 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold, harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lefse vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (ranch/rambler vs modern mountain, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Rocky Mountain Oysters
- Colorado housing costs are 117% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Colorado is 98.56% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
North Dakota to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Colorado
- Cold, harsh winters
- Limited job diversity
- Fewer cultural events
- Flat landscape
- Scarce public transit
- Milder winters
- More job opportunities
- Rich cultural scene
- Mountainous terrain
- Better transportation
- Higher cost of living
- Can feel impersonal
- Higher traffic levels
- Denser population
- Busier lifestyle
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Less traffic congestion
- Open spaces
- Quiet, peaceful life
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Colorado
- Say goodbye to cold, harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited job diversity and moving to Colorado with more job opportunities
- Swap the fewer cultural events of North Dakota for a rich cultural scene in Colorado
- Get ready for mountainous terrain in Colorado
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in North Dakota to live with a higher cost of living in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle with the con of it can feel impersonal
- Time to bid farewell to less traffic congestion and get used to higher traffic levels in Colorado
- Swap open spaces for a denser population
North Dakota vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular street food item | Knoephla Soup | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Dakota to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Green Chile of Colorado. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Knoephla Soup, Colorado residents know they have tasty Rocky Mountain Oysters and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and Theodore's Dining Room. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Root Down, Snooze, and Frasca Food and Wine.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | North Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch/Rambler | Modern Mountain, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, Privacy | Mountain views, Eco-friendly features |
- The Ranch/Rambler architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Modern Mountain and Ranch architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and eco-friendly features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Colorado housing costs are 117% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased 40% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Colorado is 98.56% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | North Dakota | 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 | Blizzards, Floods | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 18Β°F / 0Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 46 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Colorado. Colorado gets 22% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and avalanches in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 3 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 1.4 fewer inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | North Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | up to 2.9% | up to 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.01% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Healthcare | Aerospace, Agriculture, IT |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 24% more than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Colorado will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in CO is up to 4.63% compared to up to 2.9% in ND
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and high in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Colorado
Comparison | North Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Swing state, currently leans liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in state government | Democratic dominance in state government |
Religion | Largely Christian, Lutheran and Catholic | Less religiously affiliated, diverse beliefs |
- North Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state and currently leans liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with diverse beliefs
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Christian, Lutheran, and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Colorado
Comparison | North Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Discovery Elementary (Grand Forks) | Slavens K-8 School (Denver) Cory Elementary School (Denver) Bear Creek Elementary School (Boulder) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) | DSST: Byers Middle School (Denver) Challenge School (Denver) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Red River High School (Grand Forks) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Light of Christ Catholic Schools (Bismarck) | Colorado Academy (Denver) Kent Denver School (Englewood) The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Trinity Christian School (Williston) | Colorado Academy (Denver) The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Boulder Country Day School (Boulder) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Denver Public Schools |
How Much Do North Dakota to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 794 miles from North Dakota to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: The Move Caddies
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,653 | 300 ft3 | $5.51 |
1 Bedroom | $2,456 | 450 ft3 | $5.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,057 | 750 ft3 | $5.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,895 | 1100 ft3 | $5.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,494 | 1600 ft3 | $5.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,466 | 1800 ft3 | $5.26 |
Top North Dakota to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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