Texas to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 920 mile interstate move from Texas to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Texas vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like intense summer heat vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like BBQ Brisket vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (ranch, modern vs craftsman, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Texas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Brisket and Beef Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Texas
- Rent in Iowa is 36.17% more affordable than in Texas
- Moving from Texas to Iowa will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Texas to Iowa movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Top Texas to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Texas to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Best moving company overall for Texas to Iowa

Jonah's Movers

New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
Texas to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Texas to Iowa
- Intense summer heat
- Traffic congestion
- High cost of living
- Hurricane risk
- Cooler temperatures
- Less crowded roads
- Affordable housing
- No hurricanes
- Less cultural variety
- Fewer urban areas
- Limited cuisine variety
- Colder winters
- Rich cultural diversity
- Large metropolitan areas
- Tex-Mex cuisine
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from Texas to Iowa
- Say goodbye to intense summer heat and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Iowa with less crowded roads
- Swap the high cost of living in Texas for affordable housing in Iowa
- Get ready for no hurricanes in Iowa
Cons of moving from Texas to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural diversity in Texas to live with less cultural variety in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of large metropolitan areas and have to settle for the con of fewer urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to Tex-Mex cuisine and get used to limited cuisine variety in Iowa
- Swap mild winters for colder winters
Texas vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Brisket | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Ribs | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | State Fair Corn Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad | Iowa Sweet Corn Soup |
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 Texas to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic BBQ brisket of Texas for the equally delicious corn on the cob of Iowa. And while the locals in Texas rave about their flavorful beef ribs and sumptuous tacos, Iowa residents know they have tasty pork tenderloin sandwiches and state fair corn dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tex-Mex quinoa salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Iowa sweet corn soup of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Texas eateries like Franklin Barbecue, The Salt Lick, and Killen's Barbecue. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like The Amana Colonies, Zombie Burger, and The Machine Shed.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Texas. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in Texas. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Texas and Iowa
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Modern | Craftsman, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, pools | Energy efficiency, large yards |
- The Ranch and Modern architecture that Texas is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Colonial architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Texas's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and pools, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and large yards.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Iowa is more walkable than Texas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than Texas.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Texas.
- Iowa housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Texas, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Texas's $304,027.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 45% increase in Texas.
- Rent in Iowa is 36.17% more affordable than in Texas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Texas and Iowa
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94Β°F / 72Β°F | 86Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36" | 36" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 36" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Texas to Iowa. Iowa gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Texas.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Texas.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Texas, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Iowa.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 8 degrees colder than in Texas.
- The average winter lows in Iowa are 24 degrees colder than they are in Texas.
- Your umbrella might be used the same in Iowa. Iowa receives inches of rain compared to Texas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Texas and Iowa
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,284 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.1 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.73% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.81% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.25% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Technology, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance |
Affluence | Prosperous | Comfortable |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 4% less than in Texas
- The COLI in Iowa will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Texas
- Bummer... By moving from TX to IA, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.73%
- The affluence in Iowa is comfortable compared to prosperous in Texas
- The poverty level is low in Iowa compared to moderate in Texas
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Texas and minimal in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Texas vs. Iowa
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative, strong Republican presence | Swing state, balanced between Democratic and Republican influences |
Local Politics | Diverse, varying from liberal cities to conservative rural areas | Local politics tend to reflect a pragmatic approach, with a mix of conservative and liberal policies depending on the area |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a significant Evangelical Protestant footprint | Primarily Christian, with a strong presence of Mainline Protestant traditions |
- Texas tends to lean conservative with a strong Republican presence in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, balanced between Democratic and Republican influences
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a strong presence of Mainline Protestant traditions
- Texas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominating with a significant Evangelical Protestant footprint
Education Guide When Moving from Texas to Iowa
Comparison | Texas | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Texas Texas A&M University University of Houston | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | William B Travis Academy Dallas; T.H. Rogers School Houston; School of Science and Engineering Dallas | Wickham Elementary Coralville; Brookview Elementary West Des Moines; Grant Ragan Elementary Waukee |
Top 3 Middle Schools | St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas; Fort Settlement Middle School Sugar Land; Canyon Vista Middle School Austin | Ames Middle School Ames; North Central Junior High North Liberty; South East Junior High Iowa City |
Top 3 High School Schools | Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin; School for the Talented and Gifted Dallas; Carnegie Vanguard High School Houston | West High School Iowa City; Ames High School Ames; Roosevelt High School Des Moines |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas; The Hockaday School Dallas; Greenhill School Addison | Phillips Exeter Academy Exeter; Scattergood Friends School West Branch; Maharishi School Fairfield |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The John Cooper School The Woodlands; The Village School Houston; Trinity Valley School Fort Worth | Scattergood Friends School West Branch; Maharishi School Fairfield; Rivermont Collegiate Bettendorf |
Top 3 School Districts | Eanes Independent School District; Highland Park Independent; Carroll Independent School District | Iowa City Community School District; Ames Community School District; West Des Moines Community School District |
How Much Do Texas to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 920 miles from Texas to Iowa will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,724 | 300 ft3 | $5.75 |
1 Bedroom | $2,564 | 450 ft3 | $5.70 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,235 | 750 ft3 | $5.65 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,157 | 1100 ft3 | $5.60 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,875 | 1600 ft3 | $5.55 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,894 | 1800 ft3 | $5.50 |