Tennessee to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,281 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs mountain, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Memphis BBQ and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 73% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Colorado is 20.55% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Tennessee to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Colorado
- Hot summers
- High humidity
- Limited ski resorts
- Traffic congestion
- Few mountain ranges
- Cooler climate
- Low humidity
- Abundant ski resorts
- Efficient public transport
- Rocky Mountains
- Snowy winters
- Limited Southern food
- High altitude issues
- Higher cost of living
- Cultural adjustments
- Mild winters
- Southern cuisine
- Low altitude
- Lower cost of living
- Familiar culture
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Colorado
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to Colorado with low humidity
- Swap the limited ski resorts of Tennessee for abundant ski resorts in Colorado
- Get ready for efficient public transport in Colorado
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Tennessee to live with snowy winters in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited Southern food
- Time to bid farewell to low altitude and get used to high altitude issues in Colorado
- Swap a lower cost of living for a higher cost of living
Tennessee vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Quinoa Salad |
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 Tennessee to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Rendezvous, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Hattie Bβs. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Snooze an A.M. Eatery, and Root Down.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Colorado
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Mountain, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Backyards, Historic Details | Mountain Views, Eco-friendly Features |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and historic details, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and eco-friendly features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Colorado housing costs are 73% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased 40% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Colorado is 20.55% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Colorado
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good to moderate | Good to moderate; varies with elevation |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 69Β°F | 86Β°F / 56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 30Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53" | 15.5" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Colorado. Colorado gets 18% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 3 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 37.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Colorado
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Visible | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 37% more than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Colorado will be 11% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to CO, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.55%
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to significant poverty in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Tennessee and concerning in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Colorado
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Liberal/Democrat |
Local Politics | Strongly influenced by rural and traditional values | Mix of urban liberalism and rural conservatism |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Less religious, diverse beliefs |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democrat
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religious and diverse in beliefs
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Colorado
Comparison | Tennessee | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Linden Elementary School (Oak Ridge) Lockeland Elementary Design Center (Nashville) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) | Bromwell Elementary School (Denver) Cory Elementary School (Denver) Parker Core Knowledge Charter School (Parker) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) West End Middle Prep (Nashville) | DSA (Denver School of the Arts) (Denver) Kruse Elementary School (Fort Collins) Platt Middle School (Boulder) |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School (Nashville) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Boulder High School (Boulder) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | Kent Denver School (Englewood) Colorado Academy (Denver) The Fountain Valley School of Colorado (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brentwood Academy (Brentwood) Harding Academy (Nashville) Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) | Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Vail Mountain School (Vail) St. Mary's Academy (Englewood) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Douglas County School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,281 miles from Tennessee to Colorado 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
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,929 | 300 ft3 | $6.43 |
1 Bedroom | $2,871 | 450 ft3 | $6.38 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,747 | 750 ft3 | $6.33 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,907 | 1100 ft3 | $6.28 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,966 | 1600 ft3 | $6.23 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,122 | 1800 ft3 | $6.18 |
Top Tennessee to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Colorado