Wisconsin to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 870 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Cheese curds vs Pizza), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs brownstone and high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cheese curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Pizza & Pastrami on rye
- New York housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in New York is 99.84% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to New York will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Wisconsin to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to New York
- Harsh winters
- Limited public transport
- Smaller cultural scene
- Fewer job opportunities
- Milder winters
- Extensive subway system
- Vibrant arts and theater
- Abundant career options
- Higher cost of living
- Hustle and bustle
- Competitive housing market
- Dense urban environment
- Lower cost of living
- Quieter lifestyle
- Family-oriented communities
- Close-knit neighborhoods
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to New York
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transport and moving to New York with an extensive subway system
- Swap the smaller cultural scene of Wisconsin for a vibrant arts and theater scene in New York
- Get ready for abundant career options in New York
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Wisconsin to live with a higher cost of living in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quieter lifestyle and have to settle with the con of hustle and bustle
- Time to bid farewell to family-oriented communities and get used to a competitive housing market in New York
- Swap close-knit neighborhoods for a dense urban environment
Wisconsin vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese curds | Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Pastrami on rye |
Most popular street food item | Fried cheese curds | Hot dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Black bean burger | Seitan sandwich |
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 Wisconsin to New York, you will be trading the iconic cheese curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious pizza of New York. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful bratwurst and sumptuous fried cheese curds, New York residents know they have tasty pastrami on rye and hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the black bean burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the seitan sandwich of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like The Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Madera, and The Old Fashioned. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and New York
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Brownstone and High-rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Yards, Lakeside Access | Proximity to Public Transportation, City Views |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Brownstone and High-rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and lakeside access, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transportation and city views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than Wisconsin.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- New York housing costs are 56% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in New York is 99.84% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and New York
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 38Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48 | 55 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wisconsin to New York. New York gets 19% more sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- New York has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 15 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and New York
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.54% - 7.65% | 4% - 10.90% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.71% | 1.38% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.43% | 8.52% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Finance, Healthcare, Media |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 12% more than those in Wisconsin
- The COLI in New York will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- The state income tax in NY is 4% - 10.90% compared to 3.54% - 7.65% in WI
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is high in New York compared to moderate in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wisconsin and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. New York
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground state with fluctuations between Democratic and Republican dominance | Strongly Democratic, especially in urban centers like New York City |
Local Politics | Mixture of liberal and conservative local governments, varies by area | Generally liberal local politics, with progressive policies in urban areas |
Religion | Diverse, with a notable presence of Christianity, including both Catholic and Protestant denominations | Diverse, with significant representation of Jewish, Christian (both Catholic and Protestant), and Muslim communities |
- Wisconsin tends to lean as a battleground state with fluctuations between Democratic and Republican dominance in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic, especially in urban centers like New York City
- New York's religious environment can be described as diverse, with significant representation of Jewish, Christian (both Catholic and Protestant), and Muslim communities
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with a notable presence of Christianity, including both Catholic and Protestant denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to New York
Comparison | Wisconsin | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison Marquette University University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | New York University Cornell University Columbia University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Swan School (Madison) Elm Lawn Elementary (Middleton) Lake Shore Middle (Mequon) | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 Anderson School (New York) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lake Shore Middle (Mequon) Pilgrim Park Middle School (Elm Grove) Kromrey Middle (Middleton) | Rye Middle School (Rye) Jericho Middle School (Jericho) I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Brookfield East High (Brookfield) Eau Claire Memorial High (Eau Claire) Whitefish Bay High (Whitefish Bay) | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Marquette University High School (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Madison) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Prairie School (Racine) Madison Country Day School (Madison) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Brearley School (New York) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mequon-Thiensville School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Elmbrook School District | Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District |
How Much Do Wisconsin to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 870 miles from Wisconsin to New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,696 | 300 ft3 | $5.65 |
1 Bedroom | $2,521 | 450 ft3 | $5.60 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,164 | 750 ft3 | $5.55 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,053 | 1100 ft3 | $5.50 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,724 | 1600 ft3 | $5.45 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,724 | 1800 ft3 | $5.40 |
Top Wisconsin to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.