Ohio to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 614 mile interstate move from Ohio to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Cincinnati Chili vs Iowa Pork Tenderloin), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cincinnati Chili and Buckeye Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Iowa Pork Tenderloin & Grilled Pork Chops
- Iowa housing costs are 4% less expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Iowa is 25.36% more affordable than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Iowa will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Ohio to Iowa movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Iowa
- High cost of living
- Urban congestion
- Cold winters
- Quality of public schools varies
- Pollution
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Milder climate
- Better schools performance
- Cleaner air
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited culinary variety
- Lack of major teams
- Smaller city vibe
- No large bodies of water
- Vibrant arts scene
- Diverse food options
- Professional sports teams
- Larger city amenities
- Access to Lake Erie
Pros of moving from Ohio to Iowa
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from urban congestion and moving to Iowa with less traffic
- Swap the cold winters of Ohio for a milder climate in Iowa
- Get ready for better school performance in Iowa
Cons of moving from Ohio to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant arts scene in Ohio to live with fewer cultural events in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse food options and have to settle for the con of limited culinary variety
- Time to bid farewell to the professional sports teams and get used to the lack of major teams in Iowa
- Swap larger city amenities for a smaller city vibe
Ohio vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cincinnati Chili | Iowa Pork Tenderloin |
Most popular meat dish | Buckeye Chicken | Grilled Pork Chops |
Most popular street food item | Polish Boy Sandwich | Loose Meat Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Midwestern Succotash | Sweet Corn Gazpacho |
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 Ohio to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Cincinnati Chili of Ohio for the equally delicious Iowa Pork Tenderloin of Iowa. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Buckeye Chicken and sumptuous Polish Boy Sandwich, Iowa residents know they have tasty Grilled Pork Chops and Loose Meat Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Midwestern Succotash they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Sweet Corn Gazpacho of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Skyline Chili, Schmidtβs Sausage Haus, and The Pine Club. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Arie's Tavern, The Wooden Fork, and Moosewood.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa, compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Iowa
Comparison | Ohio | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, Hardwood floors | Energy efficiency, Big yards |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and hardwood floors, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and big yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Iowa is less walkable than Ohio.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Iowa is less bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Iowa housing costs are 4% less expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Ohioβs $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Iowa is 25.36% more affordable than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Iowa
Comparison | Ohio | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 36Β°F / 19Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 32 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Ohio to Iowa. Iowa gets 15% more sunshine days than Ohio.
- Iowa has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Ohio.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Ohio, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 2 degrees warmer than in Ohio.
- The average winter lows in Iowa are 5 degrees colder than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to Ohio.
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Iowa
Comparison | Ohio | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly conservative | Mixed; slightly lean conservative |
Local Politics | Varies by region; cities lean more liberal, rural areas more conservative | Similar to Ohio; urban vs. rural divide |
Religion | Christian majority, with significant Catholic and Protestant communities | Primarily Protestant, with a notable Catholic presence |
- Ohio tends to lean mixed and leans slightly conservative in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and slightly lean conservative
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with a notable Catholic presence
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with significant Catholic and Protestant communities
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Iowa
Comparison | Ohio | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Ohio University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ottawa Hills Elementary (Ottawa Hills) Indian Hill Elementary (Cincinnati) Granville Elementary (Granville) | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mt. Vernon) Roosevelt Elementary (Ames) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Granville Middle School (Granville) Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior High (Ottawa Hills) Cincinnati Country Day School (Cincinnati) | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) South East Junior High (Iowa City) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bexley High School (Bexley) Walnut Hills High School (Cincinnati) Chagrin Falls High School (Chagrin Falls) | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawken School (Gates Mills) University School (Hunting Valley) Columbus Academy (Gahanna) | Phillips Academy (Exira) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Columbus School for Girls (Columbus) Seven Hills School (Cincinnati) Hathaway Brown School (Shaker Heights) | Mississippi Valley Montessori School (Davenport) Clear Lake Christian School (Clear Lake) Quad City Montessori School (Davenport) |
Top 3 School Districts | Ottawa Hills Local Schools Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Solon City School District | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Decorah Community School District |
How Much Do Ohio to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 614 miles from Ohio to Iowa will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,551 | 300 ft3 | $5.17 |
1 Bedroom | $2,303 | 450 ft3 | $5.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,801 | 750 ft3 | $5.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,520 | 1100 ft3 | $5.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,950 | 1600 ft3 | $4.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,853 | 1800 ft3 | $4.92 |
Top Ohio to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for Ohio to Iowa