Vermont to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,681 mile interstate move from Vermont to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Vermont vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs affordable housing), food & health (like Maple Syrup vs Chislic), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Vermont), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Maple Syrup and Beef Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in Vermont
- Rent in South Dakota is 42.13% more affordable than in Vermont
- Moving from Vermont to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Vermont to South Dakota movers is Lowell's Moving & Storage
Vermont to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Vermont to South Dakota
- High living costs
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Heavy traffic in cities
- Affordable housing
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Less crowded roads
- Fewer mountain views
- Sparser population
- Fewer historical sites
- Less seasonal variation
- Beautiful landscapes
- Strong community feel
- Rich history
- Four distinct seasons
Pros of moving from Vermont to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to South Dakota with milder winters
- Swap the limited job market of Vermont for diverse job opportunities in South Dakota
- Get ready for less crowded roads in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Vermont to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in Vermont to live with fewer mountain views in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of a strong community feel and have to settle with the con of a sparser population
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in South Dakota
- Swap four distinct seasons for less seasonal variation
Vermont vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Maple Syrup | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Burgers | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Maple Creemees | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Maple Cashew Cheese | Wild Rice Bowl |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Vermont to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Maple Syrup of Vermont for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Vermont rave about their flavorful Beef Burgers and sumptuous Maple Creemees, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Maple Cashew Cheese they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Bowl of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Vermont eateries like Hen of the Wood, Doc Ponds, and Prohibition Pig. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Carnaval Brazilian Grill, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Minervas.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Vermont. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota compared to what you are used to in Vermont. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Vermont and South Dakota
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Natural scenery, proximity to skiing | Space, quiet neighborhoods |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Vermont is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Vermont's real estate listings that commonly reference natural scenery and proximity to skiing, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like space and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Vermont.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Dakota is less bike-friendly than Vermont.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Vermont.
- South Dakota housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in Vermont, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Vermontβs $381,042.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 50% increase in Vermont.
- Rent in South Dakota is 42.13% more affordable than in Vermont.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Vermont and South Dakota
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79/59 | 85/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/10 | 29/7 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 23 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 81 | 39 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Vermont to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 35% more sunshine days than Vermont.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Vermont.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in Vermont, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in South Dakota.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 6 degrees warmer than in Vermont.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Vermont.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 19 fewer inches of rain compared to Vermont.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Vermont and South Dakota
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $73,991 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 120.5 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 3.35% to 8.75% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.86% | 1.22% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Real Estate, Manufacturing, Education | Agriculture, Retail, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Relatively Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 6% less than those in Vermont
- The COLI in South Dakota is 22% lower than what you are used to living in Vermont
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Vermont
- The poverty level is moderate in South Dakota compared to relatively low poverty in Vermont
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Vermont and minimal in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Vermont vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Focus on environmental policies | Focus on agricultural and business development |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher religious affiliation, mainly Christian |
- Vermont tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as having a higher religious affiliation, mainly Christian
- Vermont's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Vermont to South Dakota
Comparison | Vermont | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Vermont Middlebury College Saint Michael's College | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Northeast Primary School (Rutland) Champlain Elementary School (Burlington) Thatcher Brook Primary School (Waterbury) | Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Fred Assam Elementary (Brandon) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Shelburne Community School (Shelburne) Charlotte Central School (Charlotte) Edmunds Middle School (Burlington) | Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Whittier Middle School (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | South Burlington High School (South Burlington) Champlain Valley Union High School (Hinesburg) St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) |
Top 3 private high schools | Vermont Academy (Saxtons River) St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) Burr and Burton Academy (Manchester) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Putney School (Putney) Long Trail School (Dorset) Thetford Academy (Thetford) | Spearfish Classical Christian School (Spearfish) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) |
Top 3 School Districts | South Burlington School District (South Burlington) Burlington School District (Burlington) Essex Westford School District (Essex) | Sioux Falls School District (Sioux Falls) Brookings School District (Brookings) Rapid City Area School District (Rapid City) |
How Much Do Vermont to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,681 miles from Vermont to South Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Lowell's Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,155 | 300 ft3 | $7.18 |
1 Bedroom | $3,211 | 450 ft3 | $7.13 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,314 | 750 ft3 | $7.08 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,738 | 1100 ft3 | $7.03 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,176 | 1600 ft3 | $6.98 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,483 | 1800 ft3 | $6.93 |
Top Vermont to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Vermont to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Lowell's Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for Vermont to South Dakota