South Dakota to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,693 mile interstate move from South Dakota to New Hampshire? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs New Hampshire across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs warmer atlantic climate), food & health (like Chislic vs New England Clam Chowder), real estate & housing (ranch, split foyer vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for New England Clam Chowder & Maple Glazed Ham
- New Hampshire housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in New Hampshire is 65.29% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to New Hampshire will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to New Hampshire movers is Fit 2 Move
South Dakota to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to New Hampshire
- Cold winters
- Sparse job opportunities
- Limited healthcare access
- Plains landscape
- Rural living
- Warmer Atlantic climate
- Diverse job market
- Advanced medical facilities
- Scenic mountains
- Urban lifestyle options
- Higher living expenses
- Variable weather
- Denser population
- Faster-paced life
- Fewer state parks
- Low cost of living
- Fewer natural disasters
- Wide open spaces
- Community feel
- State parks
Pros of moving from South Dakota to New Hampshire
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to the warmer Atlantic climate
- Look forward to moving away from sparse job opportunities and moving to New Hampshire with a diverse job market
- Swap the limited healthcare access of South Dakota for advanced medical facilities in New Hampshire
- Get ready for scenic mountains in New Hampshire
Cons of moving from South Dakota to New Hampshire
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher living expenses in New Hampshire
- You'll lose out on the pro of fewer natural disasters and have to settle with the con of variable weather
- Time to bid farewell to wide open spaces and get used to a denser population in New Hampshire
- Swap the community feel for a faster-paced life
South Dakota vs. New Hampshire: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | New England Clam Chowder |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Maple Glazed Ham |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Lobster Rolls |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Bowl | Roasted Squash |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 New Hampshire, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious New England Clam Chowder of New Hampshire. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Indian Tacos, New Hampshire residents know they have tasty Maple Glazed Ham and Lobster Rolls to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Roasted Squash of New Hampshire. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Minervaβs Restaurant, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Firehouse Brewing Co. After the boxes are unpacked in New Hampshire, don't wait too long before making your way to New Hampshire's acclaimed eateries like Black Trumpet Bistro, Surf Restaurant, and Common Man.
When comparing lifestyles, New Hampshire shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Hampshire compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Hampshire.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and New Hampshire
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Split Foyer | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to nature, historical features |
- The Ranch and Split Foyer architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of New Hampshire.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, New Hampshire real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and historical significance.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Hampshire is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Hampshire is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- New Hampshire has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- New Hampshire housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $465,926 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Hampshire have increased by 68% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in New Hampshire is 65.29% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and New Hampshire
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85F/60F | 82F/59F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30F/10F | 34F/15F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30 | 40-50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60 | 60-100 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Dakota to New Hampshire. New Hampshire gets 12% fewer sunshine days than South Dakota.
- New Hampshire 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 snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire.
- The average summer high temperature in New Hampshire is 3 degrees colder than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in New Hampshire are 5 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives 20 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and New Hampshire
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $89,992 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 116.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.2% | 2.0% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Lower | Lowest |
Homelessness | Minimal | Minimal |
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Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. New Hampshire
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Moderately liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated state government | Mixed, with slight Democratic lean in state government |
Religion | Christian majority | Less religiously affiliated |
- South Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New Hampshire, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal
- New Hampshire's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to New Hampshire
Comparison | South Dakota | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Augustana University | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Fred Assam Elementary (Sioux Falls) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) | Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Main Dunstable School (Nashua) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | George S. Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Yankton Middle School (Yankton) | Rye Junior High School (Rye) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Amherst Middle School (Amherst) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) | Hanover High School (Hanover) Bedford High School (Bedford) Hopkinton High School (Contoocook) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) Dakota Christian School (Corsica) Sioux Falls Lutheran School (Sioux Falls) | The Derryfield School (Manchester) The Birchtree Center (Newington) Heronfield Academy (Hampton Falls) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brandon Valley School District Yankton School District | Hanover School District Bedford School District Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to New Hampshire Movers Cost?
Moving 1,693 miles from South Dakota to New Hampshire will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: First-Rate Moving, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,162 | 300 ft3 | $7.21 |
1 Bedroom | $3,221 | 450 ft3 | $7.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,331 | 750 ft3 | $7.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,763 | 1100 ft3 | $7.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,212 | 1600 ft3 | $7.01 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,524 | 1800 ft3 | $6.96 |
Top South Dakota to New Hampshire Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to New Hampshire movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Fit 2 Move
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to New Hampshire