New Mexico to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,156 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert climate vs lush green environment), food & health (like Green Chile vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 6% more expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Tennessee is 23.41% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
New Mexico to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Tennessee
- High desert climate
- Sparse amenities
- Limited job market
- High UV exposure
- Secluded rural areas
- Lush green environment
- Vibrant cities
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Milder summers
- Community-centered living
- Lacks local culinary diversity
- Fewer cultural events
- Less historical depth
- Higher living expenses
- Less spectacular views
- Unique Southwestern cuisine
- Cultural festivals
- Rich native history
- Affordable living costs
- Stunning desert landscapes
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high desert climate and hello to lush green environment
- Look forward to moving away from sparse amenities and moving to Tennessee with vibrant cities
- Swap the limited job market of New Mexico for diverse employment opportunities in Tennessee
- Get ready for milder summers in Tennessee
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from unique Southwestern cuisine in New Mexico to live with a lack of local culinary diversity in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural festivals and have to settle with the con of fewer cultural events
- Time to bid farewell to rich native history and get used to less historical depth in Tennessee
- Swap affordable living costs for higher living expenses
New Mexico vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Mexico to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwiches 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 BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, El Modelo, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Tennessee
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open spaces | Historic neighborhoods, proximity to music venues |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Federal architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open spaces, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like historic neighborhoods and proximity to music venues.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Tennessee is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Tennessee is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Tennessee housing costs are 6% more expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Tennessee is 23.41% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Tennessee
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 64Β°F | 88Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.9" | 53.7" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8" | 5.8" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 26% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 2 degrees warmer than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 39.8 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Tennessee
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 0.6% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.13% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Government, Tourism | Healthcare, Automotive, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 9% more than those in New Mexico
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to high in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Mexico and low in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Tennessee
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Moderately liberal in urban areas | Conservative in both urban and rural areas |
Religion | Catholic & Protestant | Evangelical Protestant |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as evangelical Protestant
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic and Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Tennessee
Comparison | New Mexico | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University Eastern New Mexico University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University University of Memphis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manzano Day School (Albuquerque) Arroyo del Oso Elementary (Albuquerque) Douglas MacArthur Elementary (Albuquerque) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) Clovercroft Elementary (Franklin) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Lincoln Middle School (Albuquerque) | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Franklin Classical School (Franklin) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Volcano Vista High School (Albuquerque) | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Ravenwood High School (Brentwood) Centennial High School (Franklin) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) The Ensworth School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Academy for Technology and the Classics (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | Franklin Classical School (Franklin) Harding Academy (Nashville) Brentwood Academy (Brentwood) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Franklin Special School District Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do New Mexico to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 1,156 miles from New Mexico to Tennessee will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,858 | 300 ft3 | $6.19 |
1 Bedroom | $2,764 | 450 ft3 | $6.14 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,570 | 750 ft3 | $6.09 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,647 | 1100 ft3 | $6.04 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,589 | 1600 ft3 | $5.99 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,697 | 1800 ft3 | $5.94 |
Top New Mexico to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Tennessee