Tennessee to Mississippi Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 346 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Mississippi? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Mississippi across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high sales tax vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Catfish), real estate & housing (victorian and colonial vs craftsman and cottage), 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 Catfish & Pulled Pork
- Mississippi housing costs are 44% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Mississippi is 18.56% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Mississippi will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Mississippi movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Mississippi Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Mississippi
- High sales tax
- Traffic congestion
- Expensive housing
- Tourist crowds
- Fast-paced life
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Affordable housing
- Quieter lifestyle
- Slower pace
- Limited local music
- Flatter landscapes
- Fewer attractions
- Limited job options
- Fewer dining choices
- Rich music scene
- Beautiful mountain views
- Plentiful attractions
- Diverse job market
- Renowned cuisine
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Mississippi
- Say goodbye to high sales tax and hello to lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Mississippi with less traffic
- Swap the expensive housing of Tennessee for affordable housing in Mississippi
- Get ready for a quieter lifestyle in Mississippi
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Mississippi
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich music scene in Tennessee to live with limited local music in Mississippi
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful mountain views and have to settle for the con of flatter landscapes
- Time to bid farewell to plentiful attractions and get used to fewer attractions in Mississippi
- Swap a diverse job market for limited job options
Tennessee vs. Mississippi: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Tamales |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Okra Stew |
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 Mississippi, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Catfish of Mississippi. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, Mississippi residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Tamales 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 Okra Stew of Mississippi. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Central BBQ, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and The Loveless Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Mississippi, don't wait too long before making your way to Mississippi's acclaimed eateries like The Mayflower Cafe, City Grocery, and Ground Zero Blues Club.
When comparing lifestyles, Mississippi shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Mississippi compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Mississippi.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Mississippi
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian and Colonial | Craftsman and Cottage |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood Floors, Large Backyards | Spacious Kitchens, Outdoor Living Spaces |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Cottage architecture typical of Mississippi.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and large backyards, Mississippi real estate listings often highlight features like spacious kitchens and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Mississippi is less walkable than Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Mississippi is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Mississippi has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Mississippi housing costs are 44% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $178,490 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Mississippi have increased by 31% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Mississippi is 18.56% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Mississippi
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 91/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 55/34 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53 | 59 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Mississippi. Mississippi gets 5% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Mississippi has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi.
- The average summer high temperature in Mississippi is 2 degrees warmer than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Mississippi. Mississippi receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Mississippi
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $52,719 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 92.1 |
State Income Tax | 0.0 | 5.0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64 | 0.81 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55 | 7.07 |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Manageable | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Mississippi tend to earn about 19% less than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Mississippi will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to MS, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.0
- The affluence in Mississippi is lower compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is high in Mississippi compared to moderate poverty in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Tennessee and concerning in Mississippi
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Mississippi
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed, with urban areas skewing Democrat | Rural areas & small towns dominate, skewing Republican |
Religion | Protestant, with a significant Evangelical presence | Protestant, highest percentage of Evangelicals in the U.S. |
- Tennessee tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Mississippi, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Mississippi's religious environment can be described as Protestant, with the highest percentage of Evangelicals in the U.S.
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant, with a significant Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Mississippi
Comparison | Tennessee | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University Southern Mississippi University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary Lakeland | Percy Priest Elementary Nashville | Blue Grass Elementary Knoxville | Madison Station Elementary Madison | Ann Smith Elementary Ridgeland | Oak Park Elementary Ocean Springs |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School Brentwood | West End Middle School Nashville | Houston Middle School Germantown | Northwest Rankin Middle School Flowood | Madison Middle School Madison | Lewisburg Middle School Olive Branch |
Top 3 High Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet Nashville | Central Magnet School Murfreesboro | Brentwood High School Brentwood | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Columbus | Lewisburg High School Olive Branch | Ocean Springs High School Ocean Springs |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School Chattanooga | Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville | Harpeth Hall School Nashville | Jackson Preparatory School Jackson | Madison-Ridgeland Academy Madison | Presbyterian Christian School Hattiesburg |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School Bell Buckle | University School of Nashville Nashville | St. George's Independent School Collierville | Jackson Academy Jackson | St. Andrew's Episcopal School Ridgeland | French Camp Academy French Camp |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools | Franklin Special School District | Maryville City Schools | Madison County Schools | Clinton Public School District | Oxford School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Mississippi Movers Cost?
Moving 346 miles from Tennessee to Mississippi 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: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,399 | 300 ft3 | $4.66 |
1 Bedroom | $2,075 | 450 ft3 | $4.61 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,422 | 750 ft3 | $4.56 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,963 | 1100 ft3 | $4.51 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,139 | 1600 ft3 | $4.46 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,942 | 1800 ft3 | $4.41 |
Top Tennessee to Mississippi Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Mississippi movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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