Ohio to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 1,633 mile interstate move from Ohio to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cloudy weather vs sunny days), food & health (like Buckeye candy vs Bison meals), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs rustic, modern mountain), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buckeye candy and Cincinnati chili, but get your taste buds ready for Bison meals & Elk steaks
- Montana housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Montana is 2.64% more affordable than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Montana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Ohio to Montana movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Montana
- Cloudy Weather
- Urban Traffic
- Limited Wildlife
- Flat Landscape
- Humid Summers
- Sunny Days
- Less Congestion
- Abundant Nature
- Mountain Views
- Cooler Climate
- Fewer Museums
- Fewer Restaurants
- Less Nightlife
- No Major Teams
- Remote Locations
- Rich History
- Diverse Cuisine
- Cultural Events
- Pro Sports Teams
- Accessible Cities
Pros of moving from Ohio to Montana
- Say goodbye to cloudy weather and hello to sunny days
- Look forward to moving away from urban traffic and moving to Montana with less congestion
- Swap the limited wildlife of Ohio for abundant nature in Montana
- Get ready for mountain views in Montana
Cons of moving from Ohio to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Ohio to live with fewer museums in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer restaurants
- Time to bid farewell to cultural events and get used to less nightlife in Montana
- Swap pro sports teams for no major teams
Ohio vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buckeye candy | Bison meals |
Most popular meat dish | Cincinnati chili | Elk steaks |
Most popular street food item | Polish Boy | Huckleberry treats |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable pierogi | Lentil burgers |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Ohio to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Buckeye candy of Ohio for the equally delicious bison meals of Montana. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Cincinnati chili and sumptuous Polish Boy, Montana residents know they have tasty elk steaks and huckleberry treats to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegetable pierogi they've grown to love, they can get ready for the lentil burgers of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Slyman's Restaurant, Schmidt's Sausage Haus, and The Skyway East. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Montana Brewing Company, Mackenzie River Pizza Co., and Casey's Whitefish.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Montana
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Rustic, Modern Mountain |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Family-friendly, spacious yards | Mountain views, outdoor access |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Modern Mountain architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference family-friendly and spacious yards, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor access.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Montana is less walkable than Ohio.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Montana is less bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Montana housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Ohio's $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Montana is 2.64% more affordable than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Montana
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Tornados, Floods | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85/64 | 80/50 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 36/20 | 34/17 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 300 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Ohio to Montana. Montana gets 7% more sunny days than Ohio.
- Montana 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 wildfires and avalanches in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 5 degrees colder than in Ohio.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Ohio.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Ohio and Montana
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,720 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.85 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 0 - 4.797% | 1 - 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.57% | 0.84% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.23% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less Prevalent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 3% more than in Ohio
- The COLI in Montana will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Ohio
- The state income tax in MT is 1 - 6.9% compared to 0 - 4.797% in OH
- The affluence in Montana is varied compared to moderate affluence in Ohio
- The poverty level is lower in Montana compared to moderate poverty in Ohio
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Ohio and less prevalent in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Montana
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Lean Conservative |
Local Politics | Mix of Urban Liberal and Rural Conservative areas | Predominantly Rural Conservative, with Liberal pockets in cities like Missoula |
Religion | Christian Dominance, Diverse Faiths in Urban Areas | Christian Dominance, Less Religious Diversity |
- Ohio tends to lean swing State in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as lean Conservative
- Montana's religious environment can be described as Christian Dominance and Less Religious Diversity
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian Dominance and Diverse Faiths in Urban Areas
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Montana
Comparison | Ohio | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Miami University | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ottawa Hills Elementary Ottawa Hills; Indian Hill Elementary Cincinnati; Granville Elementary Granville | Hawthorne Elementary Bozeman; Chief Joseph Elementary Great Falls; Cold Springs Elementary Missoula |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bexley Middle School Bexley; Hudson Middle School Hudson; Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior High Ottawa Hills | Sacajawea Middle School Bozeman; C.S. Porter Middle School Missoula; Helena Middle School Helena |
Top 3 High Schools | Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati; Bexley High Bexley; Solon High Solon | Bozeman High School Bozeman; Helena High School Helena; Sentinel High School Missoula |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawken School Gates Mills; The Seven Hills School Cincinnati; Columbus Academy Gahanna | Carroll College High School Helena; Missoula International School Missoula; Valley Christian School Missoula |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Columbus School for Girls Columbus; University School Hunting Valley; Western Reserve Academy Hudson | Petra Academy Bozeman; Stillwater Christian School Kalispell; Mount Ellis Academy Bozeman |
Top 3 School Districts | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Cincinnati; Solon City School District Solon; Ottawa Hills Local Schools Ottawa Hills | Bozeman Public Schools Bozeman; Missoula County Public Schools Missoula; Helena Public Schools Helena |
How Much Do Ohio to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,633 miles from Ohio to Montana will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- 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 | $2,128 | 300 ft3 | $7.09 |
1 Bedroom | $3,170 | 450 ft3 | $7.04 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,246 | 750 ft3 | $6.99 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,639 | 1100 ft3 | $6.94 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,031 | 1600 ft3 | $6.89 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,320 | 1800 ft3 | $6.84 |
Top Ohio to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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