New Mexico to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,266 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dry climate vs four distinct seasons), food & health (like New Mexico Chile vs Pork Tenderloin Sandwich), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Indiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to New Mexico Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Pork Tenderloin Sandwich & Beef and Noodles
- Indiana housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Indiana is 0.94% more affordable than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Indiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Indiana movers is JP Moving
New Mexico to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Indiana
- Dry climate
- Limited water access
- High desert elevation
- Isolated location
- Four distinct seasons
- Lush landscapes
- Lower elevation comfort
- Proximity to major cities
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer natural landmarks
- Cloudy days common
- Less variety in foods
- Rich cultural heritage
- Enchanting natural landscapes
- Year-round sunshine
- Unique cuisine
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Indiana
- Say goodbye to dry climate and hello to four distinct seasons
- Look forward to moving away from limited water access and moving to Indiana with lush landscapes
- Swap the high desert elevation of New Mexico for lower elevation comfort in Indiana
- Get ready for proximity to major cities in Indiana
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural heritage in New Mexico to live with less cultural diversity in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of enchanting natural landscapes and have to settle with the con of fewer natural landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to year-round sunshine and get used to cloudy days common in Indiana
- Swap unique cuisine for less variety in foods
New Mexico vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New Mexico Chile | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Beef and Noodles |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Corn Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Seitan Steak |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Mexico to Indiana, you will be trading the iconic New Mexico Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Tacos, Indiana residents know they have tasty Beef and Noodles and Corn Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blue Corn Enchiladas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steak of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, Frontier Restaurant, and El Pinto. 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, The Love Handle, and Bluebeard.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Indiana
Comparison | New Mexico | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open landscapes | Family-friendly neighborhoods, proximity to schools |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open landscapes, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly neighborhoods and proximity to schools.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Indiana is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Indiana is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Indiana has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Indiana housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Indiana is 0.94% more affordable than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Indiana
Comparison | New Mexico | 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 | Wildfires, Flash Floods | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 64Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 46Β°F / 23Β°F | 36Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.9 inches | 42 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 inches | 22 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Indiana. Indiana gets 32% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and flash floods in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Indiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 1 degree colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 28.1 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Indiana
Comparison | New Mexico | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 1.7% - 5.9% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.76% | 0.88% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.82% | 7.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Tourism | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Significant | Less significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 12% more than in New Mexico
- The COLI in Indiana is 4% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23% compared to 1.7% to 5.9% in NM
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to high in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in New Mexico and less significant in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Indiana
Comparison | New Mexico | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Community-focused, liberal cities | Conservatively oriented, with rural areas influencing policies |
Religion | Catholic, with significant Native American spiritual practices | Protestant, especially Evangelical Christianity |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as Protestant, especially Evangelical Christianity
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic, with significant Native American spiritual practices
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Indiana
Comparison | New Mexico | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | Indiana University Bloomington Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pinon Elementary - Los Alamos Wood Gormley Elementary - Santa Fe Double Eagle Elementary - Albuquerque | Signature School - Evansville West Lafayette Community School - West Lafayette Carmel Elementary - Carmel |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Los Alamos Middle - Los Alamos Sidney Gutierrez Middle - Roswell Desert Ridge Middle - Albuquerque | West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High - West Lafayette Brown County Junior High - Nashville Fall Creek Valley Middle School - Indianapolis |
Top 3 High School Schools | La Cueva High - Albuquerque Los Alamos High - Los Alamos Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science - Albuquerque | Signature School - Evansville Carmel High School - Carmel Homestead Senior High - Fort Wayne |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy - Albuquerque Santa Fe Prep - Santa Fe Sandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque | Culver Academies - Culver Park Tudor School - Indianapolis Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School - Indianapolis |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School - Albuquerque The Menaul School - Albuquerque Rio Grande School - Santa Fe | Traders Point Christian Academy - Whitestown The Orchard School - Indianapolis University High School of Indiana - Carmel |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools Zionsville Community Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation |
How Much Do New Mexico to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,266 miles from New Mexico to Indiana 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: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,920 | 300 ft3 | $6.40 |
1 Bedroom | $2,858 | 450 ft3 | $6.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,726 | 750 ft3 | $6.30 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,876 | 1100 ft3 | $6.25 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,921 | 1600 ft3 | $6.20 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,071 | 1800 ft3 | $6.15 |
Top New Mexico to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.