Tennessee to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 424 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs moderate climate), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Hoosier Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs victorian, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Memphis BBQ and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Hoosier Pie & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Indiana housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Indiana is 19.73% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Indiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Indiana movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Indiana
- Hot, humid summers
- Limited public transit
- Higher crime rates
- Fewer job opportunities
- Threat of tornadoes
- Moderate climate
- Better infrastructure
- Safer communities
- Strong job market
- Less severe weather
- Less vibrant nightlife
- Higher housing costs
- Less friendly demeanor
- Flat topography
- Lacks culinary diversity
- Rich music scene
- Lower cost of living
- Southern hospitality
- Scenic landscapes
- Famous BBQ cuisine
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Indiana
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a moderate climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to Indiana with better infrastructure
- Swap the higher crime rates of Tennessee for safer communities in Indiana
- Get ready for a strong job market in Indiana
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich music scene in Tennessee to live with a less vibrant nightlife in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher housing costs
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to a less friendly demeanor in Indiana
- Swap scenic landscapes for flat topography
Tennessee vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Hoosier Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Deep Fried Pickles |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Tofu | Seitan Steaks |
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 Tennessee to Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Hoosier Pie of Indiana. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Indiana residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Deep Fried Pickles to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Tofu they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steaks of Indiana. 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 Loveless Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like Bluebeard, St. Elmo Steak House, and The Lizton Dairy Bar.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Indiana
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Victorian, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, proximity to nature | Affordable living, family-friendly neighborhoods |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Ranch architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to nature, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like affordable living and family-friendly neighborhoods.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Indiana is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Indiana is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Indiana has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Indiana housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Indiana is 19.73% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Indiana
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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, Winter storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/68 | 85/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 36/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Indiana. Indiana gets 11% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a lower 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 winter storms in Indiana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 4 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Indiana. Indiana receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Indiana
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.87% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.5% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 2% more than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Indiana will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to IN, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.23%
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Tennessee and low in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Indiana
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Moderately Conservative |
Local Politics | Importance of Local Governance | Significant State-level Influence |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant Majorly | Protestant with a Catholic Minority |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Conservative
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as Protestant with a Catholic minority
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Indiana
Comparison | Tennessee | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary School (Lakeland) Stanton Elementary School (Memphis) Grahamwood Elementary School (Memphis) | Signature School (Evansville) Burris Laboratory School (Muncie) Paramount School of Excellence (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) New Providence Middle School (Clarksville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) | West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School (West Lafayette) Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Indianapolis) Brown County Junior High School (Nashville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) | Carmel High School (Carmel) Fishers High School (Fishers) Hamilton Southeastern High School (Fishers) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) | Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) Harding Academy (Nashville) Battle Ground Academy (Franklin) | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) International School of Indiana (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Franklin Special School District | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Zionsville Community Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 424 miles from Tennessee to Indiana 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: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,443 | 300 ft3 | $4.81 |
1 Bedroom | $2,142 | 450 ft3 | $4.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,532 | 750 ft3 | $4.71 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,125 | 1100 ft3 | $4.66 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,375 | 1600 ft3 | $4.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,207 | 1800 ft3 | $4.56 |
Top Tennessee to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Indiana