New York to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 807 mile interstate move from New York to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like New York-style Pizza vs Kentucky Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (modern, high-rise vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to New York-style Pizza and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Kentucky Fried Chicken & Burgoo
- Kentucky housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Kentucky is 47.60% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended New York to Kentucky movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Kentucky
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Traffic congestion
- Harsh winters
- Noise pollution
- Lower cost of living
- Spacious surroundings
- Less traffic
- Milder winters
- Quieter atmosphere
- Less diverse
- Limited transit options
- Fewer job markets
- Quieter evenings
- Fewer dining options
- Cultural diversity
- Public transit
- Job opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
- World-class restaurants
Pros of moving from New York to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from the dense population and moving to Kentucky with spacious surroundings
- Swap the traffic congestion of New York for less traffic in Kentucky
- Get ready for milder winters in Kentucky
Cons of moving from New York to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cultural diversity in New York to live with less diversity in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transit and have to settle with the con of limited transit options
- Time to bid farewell to the job opportunities and get used to fewer job markets in Kentucky
- Swap the vibrant nightlife for quieter evenings
New York vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-style Pizza | Kentucky Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Burgoo |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Hot Brown Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Fried Green Tomatoes |
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 York to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic New York-style Pizza of New York for the equally delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye & sumptuous Hot Dogs, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Burgoo and Hot Brown Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Fried Green Tomatoes of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Per Se, and Sylvia's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Jack Fry's, and Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Kentucky
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, High-rise | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to public transportation, Views | Large yards, Proximity to nature |
- The Modern and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to public transportation and views, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kentucky is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Kentucky housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Kentucky is 47.60% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Kentucky
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 87Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F / 18Β°F | 44Β°F / 24Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44.62 | 50.00 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 12.5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 13% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in New York, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 5 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 5.4 more inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Kentucky
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 4 - 8.82 | 5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.96 | 0.83 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.0 | 6.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Tech | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Energy |
Affluence | Wealthy | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Severe | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 25% less than in New York
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in KY is 5 compared to 4 - 8.82 in NY
- The affluence in Kentucky is modest compared to wealthy in New York
- The poverty level is high in Kentucky compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is severe in New York and low in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Kentucky
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly Democratic | Predominantly Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies | Conservative policies |
Religion | Diverse, with a significant proportion of non-religious individuals | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean predominantly Democratic in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly Republican
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a significant proportion of non-religious individuals
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Kentucky
Comparison | New York | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | NYU Columbia University Cornell University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) Ps 172 Beacon School of Excellence (Brooklyn) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School (Louisville) Ashland Elementary (Lexington) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens) NYC Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (Manhattan) Anderson School (New York) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) Glasgow Middle School (Glasgow) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) The Brearley School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Riverdale Country School (Bronx) The Chapin School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Jericho Union Free School District Scarsdale Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools | Oldham County Public Schools Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District |
How Much Do New York to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 807 miles from New York to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,660 | 300 ft3 | $5.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,467 | 450 ft3 | $5.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,075 | 750 ft3 | $5.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,922 | 1100 ft3 | $5.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,533 | 1600 ft3 | $5.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,510 | 1800 ft3 | $5.28 |
Top New York to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.