Tennessee to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,987 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dryer climate), food & health (like Barbecue Ribs vs Idaho Potatoes), real estate & housing (traditional, colonial vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Idaho Potatoes & Trout
- Idaho housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Idaho is 3.91% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Idaho will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Idaho movers is 208 Moving Company
Tennessee to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Idaho
- High humidity
- Traffic congestion
- Higher taxes
- Limited outdoor activities
- Severe allergies
- Dryer climate
- Less crowded roads
- Lower taxes
- Abundant nature trails
- Cleaner air
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited restaurant variety
- Colder winters
- Smaller towns
- Fewer historical sites
- Lively music scene
- Diverse food options
- Warmer winters
- Established community
- Historic landmarks
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Idaho
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a dryer climate
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Idaho with less crowded roads
- Swap the higher taxes of Tennessee for lower taxes in Idaho
- Get ready for abundant nature trails in Idaho
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lively music scene in Tennessee to live with fewer cultural events in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse food options and have to settle for the con of limited restaurant variety
- Time to bid farewell to warmer winters and get used to colder winters in Idaho
- Swap an established community for smaller towns
Tennessee vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue Ribs | Idaho Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Trout |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Street Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Lentil Burger |
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 Idaho, you will be trading the iconic Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious Idaho Potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Idaho residents know they have tasty Trout and Street 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 Lentil Burger of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and The Peabody Memphis. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like Boonies Restaurant and Saloon, The Baxter's, and Capello's.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Idaho
Comparison | Tennessee | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Colonial | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, nearby parks | Mountain views, open spaces |
- The Traditional and Colonial architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and nearby parks, Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and open spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Idaho is less walkable than Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Idaho is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Idaho has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Idaho housing costs are 42% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased 69% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Idaho is 3.91% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Idaho
Comparison | Tennessee | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 67Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 30Β°F | 36Β°F / 19Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53" | 20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 60" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Idaho. Idaho gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Idaho has lower 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 wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 4 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 33 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Idaho
Comparison | Tennessee | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally leans Republican | Predominantly Republican |
Local Politics | Varies by county; urban areas more Democratic | Rural with strong Republican leanings |
Religion | Christianity dominant, with a strong Baptist presence | Christianity dominant, with a significant Mormon population |
- Tennessee tends to lean generally Republican in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly Republican
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant with a significant Mormon population
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant with a strong Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Idaho
Comparison | Tennessee | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary School (Lakeland) Discovery School (Murfreesboro) Walton Ferry Elementary (Hendersonville) | Longfellow Elementary School (Boise) Adams Elementary School (Boise) Roosevelt Elementary (Boise) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) McFadden School of Excellence (Murfreesboro) West End Middle School (Nashville) | North Star Charter School (Eagle) Heritage Middle School (Meridian) Lakeside Middle School (Plummer) |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Boise High School (Boise) Renaissance High School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene High School (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Riverstone International School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Knoxville) Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) Baylor School (Chattanooga) | Riverstone International School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) North Idaho Christian School (Hayden) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Kingsport City Schools | Boise School District Blaine County School District Coeur d'Alene School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 1,987 miles from Tennessee to Idaho 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: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,329 | 300 ft3 | $7.76 |
1 Bedroom | $3,471 | 450 ft3 | $7.71 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,747 | 750 ft3 | $7.66 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,375 | 1100 ft3 | $7.61 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,101 | 1600 ft3 | $7.56 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,524 | 1800 ft3 | $7.51 |
Top Tennessee to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.