New Hampshire to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,087 mile interstate move from New Hampshire to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Hampshire vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse career opportunities), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs prairie, chicago school), 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 Boiled Dinner, but get your taste buds ready for Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 45% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire
- Rent in Illinois is 11.02% more affordable than in New Hampshire
- Moving from New Hampshire to Illinois will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended New Hampshire to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
New Hampshire to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Hampshire to Illinois
- Limited job market
- Extreme winter temperatures
- Higher property taxes
- Fewer cultural attractions
- Diverse career opportunities
- Milder winters
- Affordable city living
- Rich cultural scene
- Flat terrain
- Higher crime areas
- Urban isolation
- Sales tax
- Breathtaking landscapes
- Low crime rate
- Community spirit
- Tax-free shopping
Pros of moving from New Hampshire to Illinois
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to diverse career opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from extreme winter temperatures and moving to Illinois with milder winters
- Swap the higher property taxes of New Hampshire for affordable city living in Illinois
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Illinois
Cons of moving from New Hampshire to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from breathtaking landscapes in New Hampshire to live with flat terrain in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low crime rate and have to settle for the con of higher crime areas
- Time to bid farewell to community spirit and get used to urban isolation in Illinois
- Swap tax-free shopping for sales tax
New Hampshire vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Boiled Dinner | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Fried Dough | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Kelp Noodles | Seitan |
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 Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of New Hampshire for the equally delicious Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in New Hampshire rave about their flavorful Boiled Dinner and sumptuous Fried Dough, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kelp Noodles they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Hampshire eateries like Polly's Pancake Parlor, Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery, and Moat Mountain Smoke House and Brewing Co. After the boxes are unpacked in Illinois, don't wait too long before making your way to Illinois' acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Hampshire. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois, compared to what you are used to in New Hampshire. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Hampshire and Illinois
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Prairie, Chicago School |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic Views, Privacy | Access to Public Transit, Proximity to Amenities |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Hampshire is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Chicago School architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to New Hampshire's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and privacy, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like access to public transit and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than New Hampshire.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Illinois is more bike-friendly than New Hampshire.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than New Hampshire.
- Illinois housing costs are 45% less expensive than they are in New Hampshire, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to New Hampshireβs $465,926.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased 35% compared to a 68% increase in New Hampshire.
- Rent in Illinois is 11.02% more affordable than in New Hampshire.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Hampshire and Illinois
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
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 | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 17Β°F | 35Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 39" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Hampshire to Illinois. Illinois gets 6% fewer sunshine days than New Hampshire.
- Illinois has lower 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 Illinois.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 5 degrees warmer than New Hampshire.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in New Hampshire.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to New Hampshire.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Hampshire and Illinois
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,992 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.8 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.05% | 2.16% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Tourism | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 15% less than those in New Hampshire
- The COLI in Illinois is 19% lower than what you are used to living in New Hampshire
- Bummer... By moving from NH to IL, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.95%
- The affluence in Illinois is moderate compared to moderate in New Hampshire
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to low in New Hampshire
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Hampshire and higher in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in New Hampshire vs. Illinois
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative, swing state in elections | Largely liberal, especially in urban areas like Chicago |
Local Politics | Local governance tends to lean conservative in rural areas | Local governance varies, with urban areas leaning liberal and rural areas being more conservative |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a significant unaffiliated or non-religious population | Primarily Christian, diverse religious communities in urban areas, significant Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu populations in cities like Chicago |
- New Hampshire tends to lean moderately conservative and swing state in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as largely liberal, especially in urban areas like Chicago
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with diverse religious communities in urban areas, including significant Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu populations in cities like Chicago
- New Hampshire's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, with a significant unaffiliated or non-religious population
Education Guide When Moving from New Hampshire to Illinois
Comparison | New Hampshire | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) Main Dunstable Elementary (Nashua) Hollis Primary School (Hollis) | South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) Willowbrook Elementary (Glenview) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Amherst Middle School (Amherst) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Hampton Academy (Hampton) | Wood Oaks Junior High School (Northbrook) Marie Murphy School (Wilmette) Daniel Wright Junior High School (Lincolnshire) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) Hanover High School (Hanover) Bedford High School (Bedford) | Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Aurora) Payton College Preparatory High School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro) | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro) The Derryfield School (Manchester) New Hampton School (New Hampton) | Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) University of Chicago Lab Schools (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bedford School District Hanover School District Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | New Trier Township High School District Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Evanston/Skokie School District 65 |
How Much Do New Hampshire to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 1,087 miles from New Hampshire to Illinois 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: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,819 | 300 ft3 | $6.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,706 | 450 ft3 | $6.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,472 | 750 ft3 | $5.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,504 | 1100 ft3 | $5.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,380 | 1600 ft3 | $5.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,462 | 1800 ft3 | $5.81 |
Top New Hampshire to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Hampshire to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

606 Movers, Inc.
Best moving company overall for New Hampshire to Illinois