Tennessee to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 296 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity levels vs less summer humidity), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Kentucky Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs colonial, 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 Kentucky Fried Chicken & Burgoo
- Kentucky housing costs are 37% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Kentucky is 22.12% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Kentucky movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Top Tennessee to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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

Boundless Moving & Storage
Rice's Professional Moving Service
Tennessee to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Kentucky
- High humidity levels
- Traffic in cities
- Lack of horse races
- High sales tax
- Limited bourbon options
- Less summer humidity
- Less traffic congestion
- Home to the Derby
- Lower sales tax
- Rich bourbon heritage
- Lacks BBQ variety
- Colder winters
- Less music spotlight
- Job markets limited
- No large mountains
- Great BBQ scene
- Warm winters
- Country music hub
- Dynamic job market
- Smoky Mountains
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to high humidity levels and hello to less summer humidity
- Look forward to moving away from traffic in cities and moving to Kentucky with less traffic congestion
- Swap the lack of horse races in Tennessee for being home to the Derby in Kentucky
- Get ready for lower sales tax in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the great BBQ scene in Tennessee to live with a lack of BBQ variety in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to the country music hub and get used to less of a music spotlight in Kentucky
- Swap the dynamic job market for a job market that is limited
Tennessee vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Kentucky Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Burgoo |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet hotdogs | Hot Brown sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Seitan βfried chickenβ |
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 Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hotdogs, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Burgoo and Hot Brown sandwiches 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 βfried chickenβ of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Central BBQ, Hattie Bβs Hot Chicken, and Chez Philippe. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like Clarkβs House of Burgoo, Gratz Park Inn, and The Lobby Lounge.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Kentucky
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious layouts, Natural scenery | Outdoor space, Proximity to nature |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious layouts and natural scenery, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor space and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kentucky is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Kentucky housing costs are 37% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Kentucky is 22.12% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Kentucky
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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, Ice Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 87/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 41/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Kentucky 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 ice storms in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 2 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Kentucky
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Noticeable | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Manageable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 9% less than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to KY, you'll now have a state income tax of 5%
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is noticeable in Kentucky compared to noticeable in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Tennessee and manageable in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean towards Republican | Traditionally Democratic, but has leaned towards Republican in recent years |
Local Politics | Major cities lean Democrat, rural areas lean Republican | Rural areas strongly Republican, urban areas have a more mixed political landscape |
Religion | Protestant majority, with a significant Evangelical influence | Protestant majority, with a strong Baptist presence |
- Tennessee tends to lean towards Republican in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as traditionally Democratic but has leaned towards Republican in recent years
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as a Protestant majority with a strong Baptist presence
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority with a significant Evangelical influence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Kentucky
Comparison | Tennessee | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Walton Ferry Elementary (Hendersonville) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Beechwood Elementary (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Houston Middle School (Germantown) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) North Oldham Middle School (Goshen) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | St. Xavier High School (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Bell Buckle) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Franklin Classical School (Franklin) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Sayre School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Rutherford County Schools Maryville City Schools | Oldham County Schools Beechwood Independent School District Fort Thomas Independent Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 296 miles from Tennessee to Kentucky 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: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,370 | 300 ft3 | $4.57 |
1 Bedroom | $2,033 | 450 ft3 | $4.52 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,351 | 750 ft3 | $4.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,859 | 1100 ft3 | $4.42 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,988 | 1600 ft3 | $4.37 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,772 | 1800 ft3 | $4.32 |