Wisconsin to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 564 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like brutal winters vs milder weather), food & health (like Cheese Curds vs Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Wisconsin), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cheese Curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Chicken & Hot Brown
- Kentucky housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in Kentucky is 4.71% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to Kentucky movers is Elite Movers
Wisconsin to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to Kentucky
- Brutal winters
- Higher taxes
- Limited bourbon culture
- Fewer horse racing events
- Less scenic landscapes
- Milder weather
- Lower taxes
- Bourbon capital
- Kentucky Derby
- Beautiful rolling hills
- No large lakes
- Limited local cheese
- Fewer tech jobs
- Fewer festivals
- Car-dependent
- Lake Michigan access
- Cheese and dairy
- Thriving tech industry
- Diverse cultural festivals
- Public transportation
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to brutal winters and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from higher taxes and moving to Kentucky with lower taxes
- Swap the limited bourbon culture of Wisconsin for the bourbon capital in Kentucky
- Get ready for the Kentucky Derby in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lake Michigan access in Wisconsin to live with no large lakes in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of cheese and dairy and have to settle with the con of limited local cheese
- Time to bid farewell to a thriving tech industry and get used to fewer tech jobs in Kentucky
- Swap diverse cultural festivals for fewer festivals
Wisconsin vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese Curds | Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Hot Brown |
Most popular street food item | Fried Cheese Curds | Barbecue Pulled Pork |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted Vegetable Platter | Kale and Quinoa Salad |
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 Wisconsin to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Cheese Curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful Bratwurst and sumptuous Fried Cheese Curds, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Hot Brown and Barbecue Pulled Pork to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Roasted Vegetable Platter they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Kale and Quinoa Salad of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like The Old Fashioned, Mader's, and Safe House. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel (Home of the Original Hot Brown), Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, and Monell's.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and Kentucky
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, Wooded areas | Historic properties, Horse farms |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and wooded areas, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like historic properties and horse farms.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than Wisconsin.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kentucky is less bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- Kentucky housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased 47% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in Kentucky is 4.71% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and Kentucky
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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, Cold Waves | Tornadoes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 44Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 12" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wisconsin to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 4% more sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- Kentucky has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and flooding in Kentucky.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 5 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and Kentucky
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.27% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Information Technology, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Contained | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 16% less than in Wisconsin
- The COLI in Kentucky is 8% lower than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- The state income tax in KY is 5% compared to 6.27% in WI
- The affluence in Kentucky is modest compared to moderate affluence in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is moderate in Kentucky compared to low in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is contained in Wisconsin and manageable in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, leans Democratic | Republican stronghold |
Local Politics | <a href="https://elections.wi.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wisconsin Elections Commission</a> | <a href="https://elect.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Kentucky State Board of Elections</a> |
Religion | Lutheran, Catholic | Baptist, Evangelical |
- Wisconsin tends to lean swing State and leans Democratic in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as a Republican stronghold
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as Baptist and Evangelical
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Lutheran and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to Kentucky
Comparison | Wisconsin | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Marquette University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Swan School (Madison) Lake Shore Middle School (Mequon) Woodland School (Appleton) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional School (Louisville) Ashland Elementary (Lexington) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lake Shore Middle (Mequon) Whitefish Bay Middle (Whitefish Bay) Pilgrim Park Middle School (Brookfield) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) North Oldham Middle School (Goshen) |
Top 3 High Schools | Brookfield East High School (Brookfield) Eau Claire Memorial High School (Eau Claire) Whitefish Bay High (Whitefish Bay) | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) North Oldham High (Goshen) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Madison) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) The Lexington School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Madison) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Elmbrook School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Cedarburg School District | Oldham County Schools Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District |
How Much Do Wisconsin to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 564 miles from Wisconsin to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,522 | 300 ft3 | $5.07 |
1 Bedroom | $2,261 | 450 ft3 | $5.02 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,731 | 750 ft3 | $4.97 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,417 | 1100 ft3 | $4.92 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,799 | 1600 ft3 | $4.87 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,683 | 1800 ft3 | $4.82 |
Top Wisconsin to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.