Tennessee to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,105 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler summer climate), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Walleye), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Minnesota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Walleye & Tater Tot Hotdish
- Minnesota housing costs are 4% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Minnesota is 0.88% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Minnesota movers is Metro Movers
Tennessee to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Minnesota
- Hot, humid summers
- Lower-quality public schools
- Limited public transit
- Severe thunderstorms
- Cooler summer climate
- Higher-ranking schools
- Better transportation options
- Quieter weather patterns
- Harsh, long winters
- Higher living expenses
- Colder social climates
- Less cultural variety
- Mild winters
- Low cost of living
- Southern hospitality
- Rich music scene
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a cooler summer climate
- Look forward to moving away from lower-quality public schools and moving to Minnesota with higher-ranking schools
- Swap the limited public transit of Tennessee for better transportation options in Minnesota
- Get ready for quieter weather patterns in Minnesota
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Tennessee to live with harsh, long winters in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher living expenses
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to colder social climates in Minnesota
- Swap a rich music scene for less cultural variety
Tennessee vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Walleye |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Tater Tot Hotdish |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Juicy Lucy Burger |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Wild Rice 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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious Walleye of Minnesota. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Tater Tot Hotdish and Juicy Lucy Burger 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 Wild Rice Burger of Minnesota. 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 Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Spoon and Stable, Matt's Bar, and The Lincoln Del.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a similar selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Minnesota
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Cape Cod |
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 Cape Cod architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and scenic views, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside properties and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Minnesota is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Minnesota is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Minnesota has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Minnesota housing costs are 4% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Minnesota is 0.88% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Minnesota
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 67Β°F | 83Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 30Β°F | 24Β°F / 7Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54" | 30" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 54" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Minnesota has similar 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 blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 6 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows in Minnesota are 23 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Minnesota
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5.35% - 9.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 1.08% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 7.49% |
Top 3 Industries | Health care, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Finance, Manufacturing, Trade |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 26% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Minnesota will be 11% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to MN, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.35% to 9.85%
- The affluence in Minnesota is high compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and low in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Minnesota
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservatively leaning | Progressively leaning |
Local Politics | Republican majority in both the state legislature and local governance | Democratic majority in the state legislature, with a mix in local governance |
Religion | Evangelical Protestantism predominant, with Southern Baptist Convention being significant | Lutheran (ELCA) predominant, with <a href="https://www.elca.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> being significant |
- Tennessee tends to lean conservatively in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as progressively leaning
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as predominantly Lutheran (ELCA), with the <a href="https://www.elca.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> being significant
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly evangelical Protestantism, with the Southern Baptist Convention being significant
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Minnesota
Comparison | Tennessee | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University Carleton College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lockeland Elementary School (Nashville) Discovery School (Murfreesboro) New Hope Elementary (White House) | Deephaven Elementary (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (Stillwater) Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Merrol Hyde Magnet School (Hendersonville) Martin Luther King Junior School (Nashville) | Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Middle (Stillwater) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) | Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Edina High School (Edina) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Harding Academy (Nashville) Franklin Classical School (Franklin) Davidson Academy (Nashville) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) Mounds Park Academy (St. Paul) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge Schools | Minnetonka Public Schools Wayzata Public Schools Edina Public Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,105 miles from Tennessee to Minnesota will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,829 | 300 ft3 | $6.10 |
1 Bedroom | $2,721 | 450 ft3 | $6.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,497 | 750 ft3 | $6.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,541 | 1100 ft3 | $5.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,434 | 1600 ft3 | $5.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,524 | 1800 ft3 | $5.85 |
Top Tennessee to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.