South Dakota to Connecticut Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,603 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Connecticut? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Connecticut across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Chislic vs Lobster Roll), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Connecticut), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison steak, but get your taste buds ready for Lobster Roll & Clam pizza
- Connecticut housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Connecticut is 67.52% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Connecticut will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Connecticut movers is Smooth Move & Delivery
Top South Dakota to Connecticut Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Connecticut movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Smooth Move & Delivery
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Connecticut

Expert Movers & Storage Inc

Dial-A-Move Inc.
South Dakota to Connecticut Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Connecticut
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Isolated rural areas
- Scattered healthcare
- Few cultural events
- Milder climate
- Diverse opportunities
- Rich urban life
- Advanced medical facilities
- Vibrant art scene
- Higher costs
- Dense populations
- Louder cities
- New surroundings
- Congested roads
- Affordable living
- Open landscapes
- Quiet lifestyle
- Familiar community
- Low traffic
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Connecticut
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited job market and moving to Connecticut with diverse opportunities
- Swap the isolated rural areas of South Dakota for rich urban life in Connecticut
- Get ready for advanced medical facilities in Connecticut
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Connecticut
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in South Dakota to live with higher costs in Connecticut
- You'll lose out on the pro of open landscapes and have to settle for the con of dense populations
- Time to bid farewell to quiet lifestyle and get used to louder cities in Connecticut
- Swap familiar community for new surroundings
South Dakota vs. Connecticut: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Lobster Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Bison steak | Clam pizza |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Steamed Cheeseburgers |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Vegan Sushi |
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 South Dakota to Connecticut, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Lobster Roll of Connecticut. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison steak and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Connecticut residents know they have tasty Clam pizza and Steamed Cheeseburgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Sushi of Connecticut. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Cattleman's Club Steakhouse, Minervas, and Phillips Avenue Diner. After the boxes are unpacked in Connecticut, don't wait too long before making your way to Connecticut's acclaimed eateries like Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Abbott's Lobster in the Rough.
When comparing lifestyles, Connecticut shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Connecticut, compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Connecticut.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Connecticut
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious land, Privacy | Proximity to amenities, Historic charm |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Connecticut.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious land and privacy, Connecticut real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Connecticut is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Connecticut is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Connecticut has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Connecticut housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in South Dakota with a median home price of $393,802 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Connecticut have increased by 55% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Connecticut is 67.52% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Connecticut
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
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, Blizzards | Storms, Winter storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 82Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 35Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30 | 40-50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60 | 20-60 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Dakota to Connecticut. Connecticut gets 11% fewer sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Connecticut has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and blizzards in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential storms and winter storms in Connecticut.
- The average summer high temperature in Connecticut is 3 degrees colder than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in Connecticut are 8 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Connecticut. Connecticut receives 20 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Connecticut
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $88,429 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 122.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3% - 6.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.32% | 2.16% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 6.35% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing | Finance, Insurance, Real Estate |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Connecticut tend to earn about 27% more than those in South Dakota
- The COLI in Connecticut is 30% higher than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from South Dakota to Connecticut, you'll now have a state income tax of 3% to 6.99%
- The affluence in Connecticut is high compared to moderate affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Connecticut compared to low in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Dakota and moderate in Connecticut
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Connecticut
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Largely Republican-led | Dominantly Democratic-led |
Religion | Primarily Protestant, with strong Catholic presence | Primarily Catholic, with diverse religious representations |
- South Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Connecticut, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- Connecticut's religious environment can be described as primarily Catholic with diverse religious representations
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant with a strong Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Connecticut
Comparison | South Dakota | Connecticut |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University | University of Connecticut Yale University Connecticut College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elementary (Harrisburg) Fred Assam Elementary (Sioux Falls) | International School at Dundee (Greenwich) North Mianus School (Riverside) Riverside School (Greenwich) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) George S. Mickelson Middle School (Sioux Falls) Edison Middle School (Sioux Falls) | Eastern Middle School (Riverside) Central Middle School (Greenwich) Saxe Middle School (New Canaan) |
Top 3 High Schools | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Washington High School (Sioux Falls) | Staples High School (Westport) Darien High School (Darien) Greenwich High School (Greenwich) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) | The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) Brunswick School (Greenwich) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) Aberdeen Christian School (Aberdeen) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) | Greenwich Country Day School (Greenwich) King School (Stamford) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Harrisburg School District Brookings School District | New Canaan School District Greenwich School District Westport School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to Connecticut Movers Cost?
Moving 1,603 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut 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: 5-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Extra Help Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,111 | 300 ft3 | $7.04 |
1 Bedroom | $3,144 | 450 ft3 | $6.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,203 | 750 ft3 | $6.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,576 | 1100 ft3 | $6.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,940 | 1600 ft3 | $6.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,218 | 1800 ft3 | $6.79 |