Ohio to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 478 mile interstate move from Ohio to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Buckeye candy vs Hot chicken), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs victorian, craftsman), 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 Hot chicken & Memphis barbecue
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Tennessee is 16.14% more expensive than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Ohio to Tennessee movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- Flat landscape
- Higher taxes
- Rust Belt decline
- Heavy traffic
- Mild winters
- Scenic mountains
- No state income tax
- Growing economy
- Less congestion
- Rising home prices
- Education disparities
- Fewer historic sites
- Fewer water bodies
- Smaller urban areas
- Affordable housing
- Great public schools
- Rich history
- Lake access
- Large cities
Pros of moving from Ohio to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a flat landscape and moving to Tennessee with scenic mountains
- Swap the higher taxes of Ohio for no state income tax in Tennessee
- Get ready for a growing economy in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Ohio to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable housing in Ohio to live with rising home prices in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of great public schools and have to settle for the con of education disparities
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historic sites in Tennessee
- Swap lake access for fewer water bodies
Ohio vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buckeye candy | Hot chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Cincinnati chili | Memphis barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Polish Boy | Pulled pork sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan pierogies | BBQ Jackfruit sandwich |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Buckeye candy of Ohio for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Cincinnati chili and sumptuous Polish Boy, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis barbecue and Pulled Pork sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan pierogies they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit sandwich of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Schmidtβs Sausage Haus, Skyline Chili, and Melt Bar and Grilled. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Tennessee
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Family-friendly | Outdoor living areas, Proximity to nature |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly amenities, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor living areas and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Ohio.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Tennessee housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Ohioβs $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Tennessee is 16.14% more expensive than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Tennessee
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83/63 | 89/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 36/20 | 49/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 54 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 6 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Ohio to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 18% more sunshine days than Ohio.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Ohio.
- Say goodbye to the possible severe storms and tornadoes in Ohio, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 6 degrees warmer than in Ohio.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 15 more inches of rain compared to Ohio.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Ohio and Tennessee
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,720 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.85 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 0-4.797% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.52% | 0.70% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.17% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Healthcare | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Minor | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 1% less than those in Ohio
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Ohio
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Ohio
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to minor poverty in Ohio
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Ohio and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground State | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed | Republican-leaning |
Religion | Diverse, with Protestant and Catholic majorities | Evangelical Protestant strong presence |
- Ohio tends to lean battleground State in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as having a strong evangelical Protestant presence
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with Protestant and Catholic majorities
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Tennessee
Comparison | Ohio | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Ohio University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Indian Hill Elementary Cincinnati; Solon City Schools Solon; Ottawa Hills Elementary School Ottawa Hills | Lockeland Elementary Design Center Nashville; New Hope Elementary Hendersonville; Johnson Elementary School Franklin |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bay Middle School Bay Village; Hudson Middle School Hudson; Mason Middle School Mason | Meigs Academic Magnet School Nashville; Brentwood Middle School Brentwood; Normal Park Museum Magnet School Chattanooga |
Top 3 High School Schools | Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati; Bexley High School Bexley; Solon High School Solon | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School Nashville; Central Magnet School Murfreesboro; Brentwood High School Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawken School Gates Mills; University School Hunting Valley; The Seven Hills School Cincinnati | Baylor School Chattanooga; Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville; The McCallie School Chattanooga |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Columbus Academy Gahanna; Western Reserve Academy Hudson; Hathaway Brown School Shaker Heights | University School of Nashville Nashville; St. Mary's Episcopal School Memphis; Baylor School Chattanooga |
Top 3 School Districts | Solon City School District Solon; Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Cincinnati; Ottawa Hills Local School District Ottawa Hills | Williamson County Schools Franklin; Maryville City Schools Maryville; Oak Ridge School District Oak Ridge |
How Much Do Ohio to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 478 miles from Ohio to Tennessee 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,473 | 300 ft3 | $4.91 |
1 Bedroom | $2,188 | 450 ft3 | $4.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,609 | 750 ft3 | $4.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,238 | 1100 ft3 | $4.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,539 | 1600 ft3 | $4.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,391 | 1800 ft3 | $4.66 |
Top Ohio to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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