Tennessee to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 476 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs milder climate), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs St. Louis Style Pizza), real estate & housing (antebellum, craftsman vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Missouri), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis Style Pizza & Kansas City BBQ
- Missouri housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Missouri is 20.61% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Tennessee to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Missouri
- Humid summers
- Limited snow activities
- Higher state taxes
- Limited public transport
- Milder climate
- Winter recreation
- Lower state taxes
- Better transit options
- Fewer live venues
- Different culinary scene
- Flat landscape
- Less biodiversity
- Vibrant music scene
- Southern comfort food
- Beautiful Smoky Mountains
- Diverse wildlife
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Missouri
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited snow activities and moving to Missouri with winter recreation
- Swap the higher state taxes of Tennessee for lower state taxes in Missouri
- Get ready for better transit options in Missouri
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant music scene in Tennessee to live with fewer live venues in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern comfort food and have to settle for the con of a different culinary scene
- Time to bid farewell to the beautiful Smoky Mountains and get used to a flat landscape in Missouri
- Swap diverse wildlife for less biodiversity
Tennessee vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | St. Louis Style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Kansas City BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan BBQ | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious St. Louis Style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Missouri residents know they have tasty Kansas City BBQ and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken, Rendezvous, and The Loveless Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Imo's Pizza, and Arthur Bryant's.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri, compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Missouri
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Craftsman | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Historic homes, downtown access |
- The Antebellum and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and downtown access.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Missouri is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Missouri is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Missouri housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Missouri is 20.61% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Missouri
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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, Floods, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 89/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 41/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 18 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Missouri. Missouri gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Missouri has lower 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, floods, and winter storms in Missouri.
- The average summer high temperature in Missouri is the same as in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Missouri
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | up to 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.53% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Stable |
Poverty | Concerning | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rising | Stable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 1% less than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Missouri will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to MO, you will now have a state income tax of up to 4.95%
- The affluence in Missouri is stable compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to concerning in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is rising in Tennessee and stable in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Missouri
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Conservative/Republican, with a slight Democratic presence in urban areas |
Local Politics | Local politics often align with state-level conservatism | Mixed, with urban areas leaning more Democratic and rural areas staunchly Republican |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian (Baptist) | Religiously diverse, with Christianity (Baptist and Catholic) being predominant |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican with a slight Democratic presence in urban areas
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse with Christianity (Baptist and Catholic) being predominant
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian (Baptist)
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Missouri
Comparison | Tennessee | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lockeland Elementary School (Nashville) Oak Hill School (Nashville) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) | Conway Elementary School (Ladue) Wilson School (Clayton) New City School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Magnet School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Bailey STEM Magnet Middle (Nashville) | John Burroughs School (St. Louis) Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) Clayton High School (Clayton) Marquette High School (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) St. Louis University High School (St. Louis) The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Bell Buckle) University School of Nashville Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (St. Louis) The Barstow School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Greeneville City Schools | Clayton School District Ladue School District Kirkwood School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 476 miles from Tennessee to Missouri 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: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,472 | 300 ft3 | $4.91 |
1 Bedroom | $2,186 | 450 ft3 | $4.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,606 | 750 ft3 | $4.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,234 | 1100 ft3 | $4.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,532 | 1600 ft3 | $4.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,384 | 1800 ft3 | $4.66 |
Top Tennessee to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Missouri