Tennessee to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 846 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs milder summer temperatures), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs BBQ Brisket), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs ranch, bungalow), 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 BBQ Brisket & Smoked Sausages
- Kansas housing costs are 29% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Kansas is 34.73% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Kansas movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Kansas
- Hot, humid summers
- Heavy traffic
- Limited open spaces
- Higher cost of living
- Milder summer temperatures
- Easier commutes
- Vast open plains
- More affordable living
- Less diverse music culture
- Less variety in food
- Flat terrains
- Fewer entertainment options
- Rich music scene
- Great southern cuisine
- Lush landscapes
- Cultural attractions
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Kansas
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to milder summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Kansas with easier commutes
- Swap the limited open spaces of Tennessee for vast open plains in Kansas
- Get ready for more affordable living in Kansas
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich music scene in Tennessee to live with a less diverse music culture in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of great southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of less variety in food
- Time to bid farewell to lush landscapes and get used to flat terrain in Kansas
- Swap cultural attractions for fewer entertainment options
Tennessee vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | BBQ Brisket |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Smoked Sausages |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Street Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Seitan Steaks |
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 Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious BBQ Brisket of Kansas. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Kansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Sausages 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 Seitan Steaks of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Slap's BBQ, and Q39.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Kansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Ranch, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Garages, community features |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Bungalow architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like garages and community amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kansas is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kansas is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Kansas has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Kansas housing costs are 29% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased 49% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Kansas is 34.73% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Kansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Hail |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 91/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 42/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53 | 28 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Kansas. Kansas gets 11% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Kansas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and tornadoes in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hail in Kansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 2 degrees warmer than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 25 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Kansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 0 | 3.1 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.75 | 1.37 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7 | 6.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Aerospace, Agriculture, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 6% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Kansas will be 3% higher than what you are used to while living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to KS, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.1%
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and low in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Kansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Republican | Leans Republican with strong Democratic presence in urban areas |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas | Mixed, with progressive trends in cities like Lawrence and Wichita |
Religion | Primarily Protestant Christianity | Diverse, with Protestant Christianity being predominant |
- Tennessee tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican with a strong Democratic presence in urban areas
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as diverse, with Protestant Christianity being predominant
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Kansas
Comparison | Tennessee | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary (Lakeland) Stanton Elementary (Stanton) Hickory Valley Christian School (Chattanooga) | Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) Meadowbrook Elementary (Prairie Village) Briarwood Elementary (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Fred J. Page Middle School (Franklin) West End Middle School (Nashville) | Leawood Middle School (Leawood) Prairie Star Middle School (Leawood) Harmony Middle School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park) Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Bishop Miege High School (Shawnee Mission) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Bell Buckle) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) The Independent School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Franklin Special School District Maryville City Schools | Blue Valley Unified School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe District Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 846 miles from Tennessee to Kansas will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- 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 | $1,682 | 300 ft3 | $5.61 |
1 Bedroom | $2,501 | 450 ft3 | $5.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,130 | 750 ft3 | $5.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,003 | 1100 ft3 | $5.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,651 | 1600 ft3 | $5.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,643 | 1800 ft3 | $5.36 |
Top Tennessee to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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