Ohio to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 365 mile interstate move from Ohio to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters near lake), food & health (like Buckeye candy vs Pasties), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Ohio), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buckeye candy and Cincinnati chili, but get your taste buds ready for Pasties & Detroit-style Coney dogs
- Michigan housing costs are 7% more expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Michigan is 0.20% more expensive than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Ohio to Michigan movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Michigan
- Harsh winters
- Flat terrain
- Limited job growth
- Milder winters near Lake
- Scenic landscapes
- Diverse job market
- Higher cost of living
- Smaller art scenes
- Longer travel times
- Affordable living
- Rich cultural history
- Central location
Pros of moving from Ohio to Michigan
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters near Lake
- Look forward to moving away from flat terrain and moving to Michigan with scenic landscapes
- Swap the limited job growth of Ohio for a diverse job market in Michigan
Cons of moving from Ohio to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Ohio to live with a higher cost of living in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural history and have to settle for the con of smaller art scenes
- Time to bid farewell to a central location and get used to longer travel times in Michigan
Ohio vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buckeye candy | Pasties |
Most popular meat dish | Cincinnati chili | Detroit-style Coney dogs |
Most popular street food item | Pierogies | Paczkis |
Most popular vegan food | Black bean burgers | Lentil walnut burgers |
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 Ohio to Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Buckeye candy of Ohio for the equally delicious Pasties of Michigan. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Cincinnati chili and sumptuous Pierogies, Michigan residents know they have tasty Detroit-style Coney dogs and Paczkis to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black bean burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil walnut burgers of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Skyline Chili, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, and The Thurman Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Delicatessen, Slows Bar BQ, and Cliff Bell's.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Michigan, compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Michigan
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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 | Spacious yards, Finished basements | Lake access, Energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and finished basements, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than Ohio.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Michigan housing costs are 7% more expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Ohioβs $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Michigan is 0.20% more expensive than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Michigan
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F/63Β°F | 81Β°F/61Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 36Β°F/19Β°F | 32Β°F/17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 inches | 33 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 inches | 60 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Ohio to Michigan. Michigan gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Ohio.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Ohio.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Ohio, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 2 degrees colder than in Ohio.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Ohio.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Ohio and Michigan
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,720 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.85 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 3.99% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.57% | 1.52% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.25% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Energy | Manufacturing, Automotive, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 2% more than in Ohio
- The COLI in Michigan is 2% lower than what you are used to living in Ohio
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 3.99% in OH
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to moderate in Ohio
- The poverty level is moderate in Michigan compared to low in Ohio
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Ohio and low in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Michigan
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Swing State with a slight Democratic lean |
Local Politics | Mix of local governance types, often leaning conservative in rural areas | Varied, with stronger Democratic strongholds in urban areas like Detroit |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban centers | Similar to Ohio, with significant Muslim communities in places like Dearborn |
- Ohio tends to lean swing State in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as swing State with a slight Democratic lean
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as similar to Ohio, with significant Muslim communities in places like Dearborn
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with diverse religious communities in urban centers
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Michigan
Comparison | Ohio | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Miami University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Indian Hill Elementary Cincinnati Granville Elementary Granville Ottawa Hills Elementary Ottawa Hills | Bates Elementary Dexter Spring Mill Elementary Northville Angell Elementary Ann Arbor |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bexley Middle School Bexley Mason Middle School Mason Hudson Middle School Hudson | Clague Middle School Ann Arbor East Middle School Grand Blanc Mill Creek Middle School Dexter |
Top 3 High Schools | Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati Indian Hill High School Cincinnati Ottawa Hills High School Ottawa Hills | International Academy Bloomfield Hills Community High School Ann Arbor Troy High School Troy |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawken School Gates Mills University School Hunting Valley The Seven Hills School Cincinnati | Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills Detroit Country Day School Beverly Hills Roeper School Birmingham |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Columbus Academy Gahanna Cincinnati Country Day School Cincinnati Hawken School Gates Mills | Greenhills School Ann Arbor Roeper School Birmingham Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills |
Top 3 School Districts | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Cincinnati Wyoming City Schools Wyoming Solon City Schools Solon | East Grand Rapids Public Schools East Grand Rapids Bloomfield Hills Schools Bloomfield Hills Northville Public Schools Northville |
How Much Do Ohio to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 365 miles from Ohio to Michigan will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,409 | 300 ft3 | $4.70 |
1 Bedroom | $2,092 | 450 ft3 | $4.65 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,449 | 750 ft3 | $4.60 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,003 | 1100 ft3 | $4.55 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,197 | 1600 ft3 | $4.50 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,006 | 1800 ft3 | $4.45 |
Top Ohio to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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