Tennessee to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 357 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high sales tax vs lower sales tax), food & health (like Hot Chicken vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (victorian, colonial vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hot Chicken and BBQ Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Pulled Pork
- Arkansas housing costs are 36% less expensive than in Tennessee
- Rent in Arkansas is 21.72% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Arkansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Arkansas movers is B2 Moving
Tennessee to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Arkansas
- High sales tax
- Heavy traffic in Nashville
- Limited nature access in cities
- Humid summers
- Lower sales tax
- Less traffic congestion
- Proximity to mountains and parks
- Milder summers
- Less nightlife
- Fewer international cuisines
- State income tax
- Different landscape features
- Vibrant music scene
- Diverse restaurants in Nashville
- No personal income tax
- Scenic Smoky Mountains
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to high sales tax and hello to lower sales tax
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic in Nashville and moving to Arkansas with less traffic congestion
- Swap the limited nature access in the cities of Tennessee for proximity to mountains and parks in Arkansas
- Get ready for milder summers in Arkansas
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant music scene in Tennessee to live with less nightlife in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse restaurants in Nashville and have to settle for the con of fewer international cuisines
- Time to bid farewell to no personal income tax and get used to state income tax in Arkansas
- Swap the scenic Smoky Mountains for different landscape features
Tennessee vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hot Chicken | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Ribs | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Scramble | Seitan Wings |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Tennessee to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Hot Chicken of Tennessee for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful BBQ Ribs and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Wings of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Loveless CafΓ©, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Sims Bar-B-Que, and The Pantry.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Arkansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Colonial | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Large backyards | Energy efficiency, Spacious lots |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and large backyards, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and spacious lots.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Arkansas is less walkable than Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike since Arkansas is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Arkansas housing costs are 36% less expensive than in Tennessee, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Arkansas is 21.72% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Arkansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 69Β°F | 92Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 30Β°F | 51Β°F / 32Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 51" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 5% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Arkansas has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 3 degrees warmer than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas as it receives 1 more inch of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Arkansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 0 | 5.5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.68 | 0.61 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55 | 9.53 |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Automotive, Chemicals | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | High | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 15% less than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Arkansas is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to AR, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.5
- The affluence in Arkansas is modest compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is higher in Arkansas compared to high poverty in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and moderate in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Arkansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed; major cities lean liberal | Mostly conservative, some liberal enclaves |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban areas | Primarily Christian, with pockets of religious diversity |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with pockets of religious diversity
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Arkansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary School Walnut Grove Elementary Percy Priest Elementary | Park Magnet School Forest Park Elementary Vandergriff Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School West End Middle School Meigs Magnet Middle School | Lisa Academy West Middle School Elizabeth Richardson Center LISA Academy North Middle |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet Central Magnet School Brentwood High School | Haas Hall Academy Bentonville High School Fayetteville High School East |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School McCallie School The Webb School | Pulaski Academy Little Rock Christian Academy Shiloh Christian School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University School of Nashville Harding Academy Battle Ground Academy | The Anthony School Little Rock Christian Academy Shiloh Christian School |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Franklin Special School District | Bentonville School District Fayetteville Public Schools Rogers School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 357 miles from Tennessee to Arkansas 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: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,405 | 300 ft3 | $4.68 |
1 Bedroom | $2,085 | 450 ft3 | $4.63 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,437 | 750 ft3 | $4.58 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,986 | 1100 ft3 | $4.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,173 | 1600 ft3 | $4.48 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,979 | 1800 ft3 | $4.43 |
Top Tennessee to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.