Wisconsin to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 702 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Cheese Curds vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs colonial and victorian), 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 Barbecue Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in Tennessee is 34.46% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to Tennessee movers is Elite Movers
Wisconsin to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Costly living expenses
- Flat landscape
- Mild winters
- No state income tax
- Lower cost of living
- Scenic mountains
- Limited large lakes
- Fewer local specialties
- Fewer local farms
- Smaller fair scene
- Abundant lakes
- Well-known cheese
- Thriving farm-to-table scene
- Iconic festivals
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from high taxes and moving to Tennessee with no state income tax
- Swap the costly living expenses of Wisconsin for a lower cost of living in Tennessee
- Get ready for scenic mountains in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from abundant lakes in Wisconsin to live with limited large lakes in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of well-known cheese and have to settle for the con of fewer local specialties
- Time to bid farewell to a thriving farm-to-table scene and get used to fewer local farms in Tennessee
- Swap iconic festivals for a smaller fair scene
Wisconsin vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese Curds | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Fried Cheese Curds | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Cheese Curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful Bratwurst and sumptuous Fried Cheese Curds, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like Fromagination, LeRoy's, and Mader's. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Loveless Cafe, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and Tennessee
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Colonial and Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside views, outdoor spaces | Mountain views, historic homes |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside views and outdoor spaces, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and historic homes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than Wisconsin.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- Tennessee housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in Tennessee is 34.46% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and Tennessee
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Cold Waves | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 59Β°F | 89Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wisconsin to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 10% more sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and cold waves in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 7 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and Tennessee
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 4.0% | 0.0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.7% | 0.7% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5% | 9.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Healthcare, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Stable | Improving |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 8% less than in Wisconsin
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is improving compared to stable in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is higher in Tennessee compared to moderate in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wisconsin and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground state with mixed support for Democratic and Republican parties | Strong Republican support, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Mix of liberal cities like Madison and conservative rural areas | Conservative governance, with cities like Nashville and Memphis being more liberal |
Religion | Christian predominance, with a significant Catholic population | Christian predominance, with a stronger emphasis on Evangelical Protestantism |
- Wisconsin tends to lean as a battleground state with mixed support for the Democratic and Republican parties in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as having strong Republican support, especially in rural areas
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as having Christian predominance with a stronger emphasis on Evangelical Protestantism
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having Christian predominance with a significant Catholic population
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee
Comparison | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Marquette University Milwaukee University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse | University of Tennessee Knoxville Vanderbilt University Nashville Belmont University Nashville |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Swan School Madison Elmwood Elementary Elmwood Richmond School Sussex | Lockeland Design Center Nashville New Hope Christian Academy Memphis Meigs Magnet School Nashville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wright Middle School Madison Lake Shore Middle Mequon Whitefish Bay Middle Whitefish Bay | Meigs Magnet Middle School Nashville Brentwood Middle School Brentwood Valor Flagship Academy Nashville |
Top 3 High Schools | East High Schoo,l Madison Whitefish Bay High Whitefish Bay Cedarburg High Cedarburg | Hume-Fogg Academic High School Nashville Central Magnet School Murfreesboro Franklin High School Franklin |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee Brookfield Academy Brookfield Madison Country Day School Madison | Baylor School Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville Ensworth School Nashville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University Lake School Hartland St. John's Northwestern Military Academy Delafield Wayland Academy Beaver Dam | The Webb School Bell Buckle Franklin Road Academy Nashville Christian Academy of Knoxville Knoxville |
Top 3 School Districts | Mequon-Thiensville School District Mequon Whitefish Bay School District Whitefish Bay Elmbrook School District Brookfield | Williamson County Schools Franklin Oak Ridge School District Oak Ridge Maryville City Schools Maryville |
How Much Do Wisconsin to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 702 miles from Wisconsin to Tennessee 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: Above Average Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,600 | 300 ft3 | $5.33 |
1 Bedroom | $2,378 | 450 ft3 | $5.28 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,926 | 750 ft3 | $5.23 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,703 | 1100 ft3 | $5.18 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,216 | 1600 ft3 | $5.13 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,153 | 1800 ft3 | $5.08 |
Top Wisconsin to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.