New Hampshire to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,259 mile interstate move from New Hampshire to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Hampshire vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs farmhouse, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and Maple Glazed Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire
- Rent in Iowa is 45.09% more affordable than in New Hampshire
- Moving from New Hampshire to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended New Hampshire to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
New Hampshire to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Hampshire to Iowa
- Cold winters
- Higher cost of living
- Limited farmland
- High property taxes
- Milder winters
- Affordable housing
- Vast farming opportunities
- Lower taxes
- Less scenic diversity
- Slower economic growth
- Far from coastal cities
- Less historical landmarks
- Beautiful landscapes
- Dynamic economy
- Proximity to Boston
- Rich history
Pros of moving from New Hampshire to Iowa
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to Iowa with affordable housing
- Swap the limited farmland of New Hampshire for vast farming opportunities in Iowa
- Get ready for lower taxes in Iowa
Cons of moving from New Hampshire to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in New Hampshire to live with less scenic diversity in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of a dynamic economy and have to settle with the con of slower economic growth
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to Boston and get used to being far from coastal cities in Iowa
- Swap rich history for fewer historical landmarks
New Hampshire vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Hampshire | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Maple Glazed Pork | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Fried Dough | Taco Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Maple Cookies | Vegan Cornbread |
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 New Hampshire to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of New Hampshire for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in New Hampshire rave about their flavorful Maple Glazed Pork and sumptuous Fried Dough, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Taco Truck Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Maple Cookies they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Cornbread of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Hampshire eateries like The Old Salt Restaurant, The Common Man, and Moat Mountain Smoke House. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like The Ronneburg Restaurant, Zombie Burger, and Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Hampshire. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in New Hampshire. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Hampshire and Iowa
Comparison | New Hampshire | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Farmhouse, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic views, private decks | Spacious yards, proximity to schools |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Hampshire is known for will be replaced with the Farmhouse and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to New Hampshire's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and private decks, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and proximity to schools.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Iowa is less walkable than New Hampshire.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Iowa is less bike-friendly than New Hampshire.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than New Hampshire.
- Iowa housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to New Hampshireβs $465,926.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 68% increase in New Hampshire.
- Rent in Iowa is 45.09% more affordable than in New Hampshire.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Hampshire and Iowa
Comparison | New Hampshire | 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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 17Β°F | 31Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60 | 48 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Hampshire to Iowa. Iowa gets 3% more sunshine days than New Hampshire.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New Hampshire.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Iowa.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 5 degrees warmer than in New Hampshire.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in New Hampshire.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 11 fewer inches of rain compared to New Hampshire.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Hampshire and Iowa
Comparison | New Hampshire | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,992 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.8 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.00% | 8.53% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.20% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Financial Services | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 23% less than those in New Hampshire
- The COLI in Iowa will be 18% lower than what you are used to living in New Hampshire
- The state income tax in IA is 8.53% compared to 5.00% in NH
- The affluence in Iowa is average compared to moderate in New Hampshire
- The poverty level is moderate in Iowa compared to low in New Hampshire
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Hampshire and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in New Hampshire vs. Iowa
Comparison | New Hampshire | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State with Liberal Tendencies | Mixed, with a Slight Lean Towards Conservatism |
Local Politics | Local Government Often Reflects a Mixture of Views | Varied, with Rural Areas Tending More Conservative |
Religion | Less Religiously Affiliated Overall | Higher Proportion of Protestant and Catholic Residents |
- New Hampshire tends to lean swing state with liberal tendencies in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a slight lean towards conservatism
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as a higher proportion of Protestant and Catholic residents
- New Hampshire's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated overall
Education Guide When Moving from New Hampshire to Iowa
Comparison | New Hampshire | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Main Dunstable School (Nashua) | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Shimek Elementary (Iowa City) Brookview Elementary (West Des Moines) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Rye Junior High (Rye) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Amherst Middle School (Amherst) | Ames Middle School (Ames) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Hanover High School (Hanover) Bedford High School (Bedford) | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Roosevelt High School (Des Moines) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro) | Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Wahlert Catholic High School (Dubuque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Derryfield School (Manchester) Portsmouth Christian Academy (Dover) New Hampton School (New Hampton) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bedford School District Hanover School District Londonderry School District | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools |
How Much Do New Hampshire to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,259 miles from New Hampshire to Iowa will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,916 | 300 ft3 | $6.39 |
1 Bedroom | $2,852 | 450 ft3 | $6.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,716 | 750 ft3 | $6.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,861 | 1100 ft3 | $6.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,900 | 1600 ft3 | $6.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,047 | 1800 ft3 | $6.14 |
Top New Hampshire to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Hampshire to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for New Hampshire to Iowa