Rhode Island to Texas Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,935 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Texas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Texas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) vs Brisket BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, spanish revival), 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 Clam Cakes, but get your taste buds ready for Brisket BBQ & Tex-Mex Fajitas
- Texas housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Texas is 18.67% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Texas will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Texas movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Rhode Island to Texas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Texas
- Harsh winters
- Higher cost of living
- Limited job market
- Small state size
- Mild winters
- Lower cost of living
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vast land areas
- No coastline
- Urban sprawl
- Intense summer heat
- Long-distance travel
- Scenic coastline
- Rich history
- Quaint charm
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Texas
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to Texas with a lower cost of living
- Swap the limited job market of Rhode Island for diverse job opportunities in Texas
- Get ready for vast land areas in Texas
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Texas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the scenic coastline in Rhode Island to live with no coastline in Texas
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of urban sprawl
- Time to bid farewell to quaint charm and get used to the intense summer heat in Texas
- Swap close-knit communities for long-distance travel
Rhode Island vs. Texas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Brisket BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Clam Cakes | Tex-Mex Fajitas |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed Salad | Vegan Chili |
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 Texas, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Brisket BBQ of Texas. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Clam Cakes and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Texas residents know they have tasty Tex-Mex Fajitas and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seaweed Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Chili of Texas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Hemenwayβs, and The Mooring. After the boxes are unpacked in Texas, don't wait too long before making your way to Texas's acclaimed eateries like Franklin Barbecue, The Woodlands of Nilgai, and Hattie Bβs Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Texas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Texas compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Texas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Texas
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, waterfront | Spacious yards, energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Spanish Revival architecture typical of Texas.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and waterfront, Texas real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Texas is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Texas is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- Texas has more of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Texas housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $304,027 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Texas have increased by 45% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Texas is 18.67% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Texas
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
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 | Nor'easters, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies Significantly |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 94Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 36" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Texas. Texas gets 16% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Texas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible nor'easters and hurricanes in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Texas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Texas is 12 degrees warmer than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees warmer than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Texas. Texas receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Texas
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $72,284 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 91.1 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.35% | 1.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.0% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing | Energy, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Contained | Widespread |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Texas tend to earn about 12% less than in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Texas is 26% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- Hooray, moving to TX means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Texas is varied compared to moderate affluence in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is higher in Texas compared to moderate poverty in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is contained in Rhode Island and widespread in Texas
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Texas
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Conservative, with progressive pockets in cities like Austin |
Religion | Majority Catholic | Evangelical Protestant, with a strong Catholic presence |
- Rhode Island tends to lean largely Democratic in its political climate
- Texas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Texas's religious environment can be described as evangelical Protestant with a strong Catholic presence
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Texas
Comparison | Rhode Island | Texas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Brown University Rhode Island College | University of Texas at Austin Texas A&M University University of Houston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary School Bristol Hamilton Elementary North Kingstown Community School Cumberland | Carroll Elementary School Southlake Creekside Forest Elementary School The Woodlands William L. Buckley Elementary School Austin |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle School Barrington Lincoln School Providence Gordon School East Providence | Coppell Middle School West Coppell Seven Lakes Junior High Katy Fort Settlement Middle School Sugar Land |
Top 3 High Schools | Classical High School Providence East Greenwich High East Greenwich Barrington High School Barrington | Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin Carroll Senior High School Southlake Westlake High School Austin |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School Providence St. Georges School Middletown Lincoln School Providence | St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas The Hockaday School Dallas Greenhill School Addison |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wheeler School Providence Moses Brown School Providence Lincoln School Providence | The Awty International School Houston Greenhill School Addison The Hockaday School Dallas |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Lincoln Public Schools | Eanes Independent School District Austin Carroll Independent School District Southlake Coppell Independent School District Coppell |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Texas Movers Cost?
Moving 1,935 miles from Rhode Island to Texas will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,299 | 300 ft3 | $7.66 |
1 Bedroom | $3,427 | 450 ft3 | $7.61 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,674 | 750 ft3 | $7.56 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,266 | 1100 ft3 | $7.51 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,944 | 1600 ft3 | $7.46 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,347 | 1800 ft3 | $7.41 |
Top Rhode Island to Texas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Texas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Best moving company overall for Rhode Island to Texas