New York to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 975 mile interstate move from New York to Wisconsin? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Wisconsin across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like New York-Style Pizza vs Cheese Curds), real estate & housing (modern, high-rise vs craftsman, cape cod), 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 Beef Pastrami, but get your taste buds ready for Cheese Curds & Bratwurst
- Wisconsin housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Wisconsin is 49.96% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Wisconsin will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended New York to Wisconsin movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Wisconsin
- High cost of living
- Extreme traffic
- Noise pollution
- Crowded public spaces
- Lack of personal space
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Quiet neighborhoods
- Spacious parks
- Open landscapes
- Limited entertainment options
- Fewer art venues
- Less culinary variety
- Remote locations
- Less transit availability
- Vibrant nightlife
- Cultural attractions
- Diverse restaurants
- Access to major hubs
- Robust public transit
Pros of moving from New York to Wisconsin
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from extreme traffic and moving to Wisconsin with less congestion
- Swap the noise pollution of New York for quiet neighborhoods in Wisconsin
- Get ready for spacious parks in Wisconsin
Cons of moving from New York to Wisconsin
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant nightlife in New York to live with limited entertainment options in Wisconsin
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural attractions and have to settle with the con of fewer art venues
- Time to bid farewell to diverse restaurants and get used to less culinary variety in Wisconsin
- Swap access to major hubs for remote locations
New York vs. Wisconsin: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-Style Pizza | Cheese Curds |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Pastrami | Bratwurst |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Fried Cheese Curds |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Vegetable Pasty |
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 York to Wisconsin, you will be trading the iconic New York-Style Pizza of New York for the equally delicious Cheese Curds of Wisconsin. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Beef Pastrami and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Wisconsin residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Fried Cheese Curds 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 Vegetable Pasty of Wisconsin. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, The Spotted Pig, and Le Bernardin. After the boxes are unpacked in Wisconsin, don't wait too long before making your way to Wisconsin's acclaimed eateries like Mars Cheese Castle, The Old Fashioned, and L'Etoile.
When comparing lifestyles, Wisconsin shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wisconsin compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wisconsin.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Wisconsin
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, High-rise | Craftsman, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to subway, views | Large yards, quiet streets |
- The Modern and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Cape Cod architecture typical of Wisconsin.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subways and views, Wisconsin real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and quiet streets.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Wisconsin is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Wisconsin is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Wisconsin has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Wisconsin housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $294,909 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Wisconsin have increased by 47% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Wisconsin is 49.96% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Wisconsin
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 66Β°F | 82Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 26Β°F | 28Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44.8" | 32.6" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3" | 48" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Wisconsin. Wisconsin gets 16% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Wisconsin has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in New York, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Wisconsin.
- The average summer high temperature in Wisconsin is the same as in New York.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wisconsin. Wisconsin receives 12.2 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Wisconsin
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $70,996 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 95.65 |
State Income Tax | 4% to 10.9% | 3.54% to 7.65% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.72% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% to 8.875% | 5% to 5.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Education | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wisconsin tend to earn about 11% less than those in New York
- The COLI in Wisconsin will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in WI is 3.54% to 7.65% compared to 4% to 10.9% in NY
- The affluence in Wisconsin is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Wisconsin compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in Wisconsin
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Wisconsin
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mostly Democratic | Mixed, Leaning Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive Policies | Balanced Approaches |
Religion | Diverse | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean mostly Democratic in its political climate
- Wisconsin, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and leaning Republican
- Wisconsin's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Wisconsin
Comparison | New York | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University Columbia University Cornell University | University of Wisconsin-Madison Marquette University University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) Anderson School (New York) | Randall Elementary School (Madison) Shorewood Hills Elementary School (Shorewood Hills) Lakeview Elementary School (Neenah) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School (New York) New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (New York) Jericho Middle School (Jericho) | Longfellow Middle School (Wauwatosa) Whitefish Bay Middle School (Whitefish Bay) Lake Shore Middle School (Mequon) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | Whitefish Bay High School (Whitefish Bay) Brookfield East High School (Brookfield) Middleton High School (Middleton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Collegiate School (New York) Trinity School (New York) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Madison) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Riverdale Country School (Bronx) The Chapin School (New York) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Madison) Prairie School (Racine) |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Public Schools Syosset Central School District | Elmbrook School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Whitefish Bay School District |
How Much Do New York to Wisconsin Movers Cost?
Moving 975 miles from New York to Wisconsin 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,755 | 300 ft3 | $5.85 |
1 Bedroom | $2,610 | 450 ft3 | $5.80 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,313 | 750 ft3 | $5.75 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,271 | 1100 ft3 | $5.70 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,041 | 1600 ft3 | $5.65 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,081 | 1800 ft3 | $5.60 |
Top New York to Wisconsin Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Wisconsin movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.