Tennessee to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 708 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Barbecue vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Cherry Pie & Coney Island Hot Dog
- Michigan housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Michigan is 13.72% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Tennessee to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Michigan
- Hot summers
- Limited snowfall
- Traffic in urban areas
- Smaller financial sector
- Limited fresh water spots
- Cooler climate
- Winter activities
- Smoother commutes
- Diverse job market
- Great Lakes access
- Higher taxes
- Adjusting to a new culture
- Harsh winters
- Pine trees overpower autumn colors
- Extreme north location
- Stable cost of living
- Familiar community
- Warm winters
- Regional foods
- Central location/South
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Michigan
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited snowfall and moving to Michigan with winter activities
- Swap the traffic in urban areas of Tennessee for smoother commutes in Michigan
- Get ready for a diverse job market in Michigan
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a stable cost of living in Tennessee to live with higher taxes in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of a familiar community and have to settle with the con of adjusting to a new culture
- Time to bid farewell to warm winters and get used to harsh winters in Michigan
- Swap regional foods for pine trees that overpower autumn colors
Tennessee vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Coney Island Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Barbecue Nachos | Food Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich | Lentil Walnut 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 (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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic barbecue of Tennessee for the equally delicious cherry pie of Michigan. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful hot chicken and sumptuous barbecue nachos, Michigan residents know they have tasty Coney Island hot dogs and food truck tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ jackfruit sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the lentil walnut burger of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, and Monell's Dining & Catering. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and American Coney Island.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Michigan
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, scenic views | Lakeside properties, energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and scenic views, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside properties and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Michigan housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased 45% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Michigan is 13.72% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Michigan
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 81/61 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 32/18 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 30-38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 60-160" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Michigan. Michigan gets 18% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Michigan 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 snowstorms and floods in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 8 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Michigan
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.7% | 1.6% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 3% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Michigan will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to MI, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.25%
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Michigan compared to low in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Michigan
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing State, trending Democratic |
Local Politics | Strong Republican presence in rural areas | Mix of Democratic and Republican, urban areas lean Democratic |
Religion | Highly religious, predominant Evangelical Christian | Diverse religious landscape, but less religious than Tennessee |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, trending Democratic
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, but less religious than Tennessee
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Evangelical Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Michigan
Comparison | Tennessee | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Belmont University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lipscomb Elementary - Brentwood Walton Ferry Elementary - Hendersonville John P. Freeman Optional School - Memphis | Bates Elementary - Dexter Wealthy Elementary - East Grand Rapids Angell School - Ann Arbor |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle - Brentwood Meigs Magnet Middle - Nashville Houston Middle - Germantown | East Grand Rapids Middle - East Grand Rapids West Middle - Plymouth Clague Middle - Ann Arbor |
Top 3 High School Schools | Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Hume-Fogg Academic High - Nashville Brentwood High - Brentwood | International Academy - Bloomfield Hills Troy High - Troy Novi High - Novi |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School - Chattanooga McCallie School - Chattanooga Ensworth School - Nashville | Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Greenhills School - Ann Arbor |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School - Bell Buckle Baylor School - Chattanooga University School of Nashville - Nashville | Roeper School - Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Greenhills School - Ann Arbor |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District | East Grand Rapids Public Schools Bloomfield Hills Schools Troy School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 708 miles from Tennessee to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,604 | 300 ft3 | $5.35 |
1 Bedroom | $2,383 | 450 ft3 | $5.30 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,935 | 750 ft3 | $5.25 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,716 | 1100 ft3 | $5.20 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,234 | 1600 ft3 | $5.15 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,173 | 1800 ft3 | $5.10 |
Top Tennessee to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.