Rhode Island to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,249 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and Grilled Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Iowa is 48.09% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Rhode Island to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Iowa
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Limited job market
- Affordable housing
- Open spaces
- Diverse job opportunities
- Landlocked geography
- Fewer cultural venues
- Newer developments
- Coastal beauty
- Cultural attractions
- Historical charm
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Iowa
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from the dense population and moving to Iowa with open spaces
- Swap the limited job market of Rhode Island for diverse job opportunities in Iowa
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the coastal beauty in Rhode Island to live with the landlocked geography in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural attractions and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural venues
- Time to bid farewell to historical charm and get used to newer developments in Iowa
Rhode Island vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pizza | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Taco Trucks |
Most popular vegan food | Del's Lemonade | Black Bean Burger |
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 Rhode Island to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Grilled Pizza and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Taco Trucks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Del's Lemonade they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Mount Hope Farm, and New Rivers. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Zombie Burger, Fong's Pizza, and Americana.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Iowa
Comparison | Rhode Island | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront views, Historical features | Spacious yards, Proximity to nature |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront views and historical features, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Iowa is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Iowa housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased 36% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Iowa is 48.09% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Iowa
Comparison | Rhode Island | 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 | Hurricanes, Storms | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/63Β°F | 85Β°F/65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F/20Β°F | 31Β°F/13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 34 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Iowa. Iowa gets 1% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and storms in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 3 degrees warmer than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows in Iowa are 7 degrees colder than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 11 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Iowa
Comparison | Rhode Island | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.99 | 8.53 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.63 | 1.57 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.0 | 6.94 |
Top 3 Industries | Health Care, Education, Manufacturing | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 15% less than those in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Iowa will be 22% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in IA is 8.53 compared to 5.99 in RI
- The affluence in Iowa is moderate compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is moderate in Iowa compared to low in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Rhode Island and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Iowa
Comparison | Rhode Island | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Liberal policies in urban areas | Conservative in rural, liberal in urban areas |
Religion | Catholic majority | Protestant majority |
- Rhode Island tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as a Protestant majority
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Catholic majority
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Iowa
Comparison | Rhode Island | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Brown University Rhode Island College | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary Bristol Nayatt School Barrington Community School Cumberland | Grant Ragan Elementary Waukee Brookview Elementary West Des Moines Shimek Elementary School Iowa City |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle School Barrington Wickford Middle School North Kingstown Scituate Middle School Scituate | Ames Middle School Ames North Central Junior High Coralville South East Junior High Iowa City |
Top 3 High School Schools | Classical High School Providence Barrington High School Barrington East Greenwich High East Greenwich | West High School Iowa City Ames High School Ames Johnston High School Johnston |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School Providence La Salle Academy Providence St. George's School Middletown | The Scattergood Friends School West Branch Maharishi School Fairfield St. Albert Catholic Schools Council Bluffs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wheeler School Providence Lincoln School Providence St. Andrew's School Barrington | Maharishi School Fairfield Scattergood Friends School West Branch Cedar Valley Christian School Cedar Rapids |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Lincoln School District | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Waukee Community School District |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,249 miles from Rhode Island to Iowa will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,911 | 300 ft3 | $6.37 |
1 Bedroom | $2,843 | 450 ft3 | $6.32 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,701 | 750 ft3 | $6.27 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,840 | 1100 ft3 | $6.22 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,870 | 1600 ft3 | $6.17 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,013 | 1800 ft3 | $6.12 |
Top Rhode Island to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Rhode Island to Iowa