North Dakota to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,052 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lefse vs Sugar Cream Pie), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Indiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Sugar Cream Pie & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Indiana housing costs are 6% less expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Indiana is 32.21% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Indiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Indiana movers is Two Men and a Truck
North Dakota to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Indiana
- harsh winters
- sparse entertainment
- limited job opportunities
- long travel distances
- isolated communities
- milder winters
- vibrant cultural scene
- diverse job market
- better connectivity
- bustling neighborhoods
- higher taxes
- more congestion
- higher cost of living
- less personal connection
- busy roads
- low state taxes
- wide-open spaces
- affordable living costs
- tight-knit communities
- less traffic
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Indiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from sparse entertainment and moving to Indiana with a vibrant cultural scene
- Swap the limited job opportunities of North Dakota for a diverse job market in Indiana
- Get ready for better connectivity in Indiana
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from low state taxes in North Dakota to live with higher taxes in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of wide-open spaces and have to settle for the con of more congestion
- Time to bid farewell to affordable living costs and get used to a higher cost of living in Indiana
- Swap tight-knit communities for less personal connection
North Dakota vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Sugar Cream Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Knoephla Soup | Elephant Ears |
Most popular vegan food | Chia Seed Pudding | Seitan Wings |
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 Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Sugar Cream Pie of Indiana. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Knoephla Soup, Indiana residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Elephant Ears to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chia Seed Pudding they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Wings of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Kroll's Diner, and The HoDo Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Indiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garage space | Historical features, proximity to amenities |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garage space, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like historical details and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Indiana is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Indiana is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Indiana has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Indiana housing costs are 6% less expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Indiana is 32.21% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Indiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, blizzards | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 2Β°F | 36Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17-25 | 40-45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-50 | 20-30 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Dakota to Indiana. Indiana gets 7% fewer sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and blizzards in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Indiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 3 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows in Indiana are 18 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 23 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Indiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 2.9 | 3.23 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.01 | 0.87 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.86 | 7.00 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 7% less than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Indiana will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23 compared to 2.9 in ND
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to moderate affluence in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in North Dakota and noticeable in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Indiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing state, recently leans Conservative |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in state legislature | Mixed, with Republican control in recent years |
Religion | Christianity dominant; Lutheran strong presence | Christianity dominant; Catholic & Evangelical strong presence |
- North Dakota tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, and recently leans Conservative
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant with a strong presence of Catholicism & Evangelicalism
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant with a strong presence of Lutheranism
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Indiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University | Indiana University Bloomington Purdue University University of Notre Dame |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedom Elementary - West Fargo Longfellow Elementary - Fargo Centennial Elementary - Bismarck | Paramount School of Excellence - Indianapolis Signature School - Evansville University Elementary School - Bloomington |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School - Fargo Horizon Middle School - Bismarck Discovery Middle School - Grand Forks | West Lafayette Junior/Senior High - West Lafayette Fall Creek Valley Middle School - Indianapolis St. Simon the Apostle School - Indianapolis |
Top 3 High School Schools | Fargo North High - Fargo Century High - Bismarck Red River High - Grand Forks | Signature School - Evansville Carmel High - Carmel Fishers High School - Fishers |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School - Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo Light of Christ Academy - Bismarck | Culver Academies - Culver Park Tudor School - Indianapolis Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School - Indianapolis |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo Shiloh Christian School - Bismarck Trinity Christian School - Williston | Traders Point Christian Academy - Whitestown Heritage Christian School - Indianapolis The International School - Indianapolis |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools Hamilton Southeastern Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation |
How Much Do North Dakota to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,052 miles from North Dakota to Indiana 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: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,799 | 300 ft3 | $6.00 |
1 Bedroom | $2,676 | 450 ft3 | $5.95 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,422 | 750 ft3 | $5.90 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,431 | 1100 ft3 | $5.85 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,274 | 1600 ft3 | $5.80 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,343 | 1800 ft3 | $5.75 |
Top North Dakota to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Two Men and a Truck
Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Indiana