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Moving to Another State
Moving to another state means more than changing your address. Where you live can affect what you pay for housing, taxes and insurance, how much you drive, what weather you prepare for and what you need to do after becoming a resident.
And statewide averages only tell part of the story.
Living in Phoenix is very different from Flagstaff. Miami has different housing and insurance considerations than inland Florida. New York City is nothing like Upstate New York. Dallas, Austin, Houston and rural Texas can feel like entirely different housing and transportation markets.
Start with the state you’re moving to, then look more closely at the cities and communities that fit your budget, work, family and lifestyle.
Where Are You Moving?
Choose your destination to see what to know before you move, including housing, taxes, weather, insurance, transportation, regional differences and important new-resident requirements.
Northeast
Older cities, dense suburbs, four-season weather and some of the country’s highest housing and property-tax markets make location especially important in the Northeast.
Moving to Connecticut
Moving to Maine
Moving to Massachusetts
Moving to New Hampshire
Moving to New Jersey
Moving to New York
Moving to Pennsylvania
Moving to Rhode Island
Moving to Vermont
Mid-Atlantic
This region ranges from major commuter markets around Washington, DC to coastal communities, smaller cities and rural areas. Housing costs, commuting patterns and taxes can change quickly over relatively short distances.
Moving to Delaware
Moving to Maryland
Moving to Virginia
Moving to West Virginia
Moving to Washington, DC
Southeast
The Southeast includes fast-growing metropolitan areas, smaller cities, mountain communities and long stretches of coastline. Housing can be more affordable than in some coastal markets, but hurricane exposure, flooding, humidity and insurance can significantly affect the true cost of living in certain areas.
Moving to Alabama
Moving to Arkansas
Moving to Florida
Moving to Georgia
Moving to Kentucky
Moving to Louisiana
Moving to Mississippi
Moving to North Carolina
Moving to South Carolina
Moving to Tennessee
Midwest
The Midwest offers everything from large metropolitan areas to smaller cities and agricultural communities. Housing costs may be lower than in many coastal markets, but winter weather, property taxes, heating expenses and longer driving distances can matter.
Moving to Illinois
Moving to Indiana
Moving to Iowa
Moving to Kansas
Moving to Michigan
Moving to Minnesota
Moving to Missouri
Moving to Nebraska
Moving to North Dakota
Moving to Ohio
Moving to South Dakota
Moving to Wisconsin
Southwest
Hot summers, fast-growing metros and car-dependent communities are common across much of the Southwest, but elevation can dramatically change local weather. Housing, water use, air-conditioning costs and insurance risks should be evaluated by location.
Moving to Arizona
Moving to New Mexico
Moving to Nevada
Moving to Oklahoma
Moving to Texas
Mountain West
Rapid growth has changed many Mountain West housing markets. Elevation, snow, wildfire exposure, mountain driving and distance from services can be just as important as home prices.
Moving to Colorado
Moving to Idaho
Moving to Montana
Moving to Utah
Moving to Wyoming
West Coast
Housing costs, traffic, earthquake risk, wildfire exposure and insurance availability can vary dramatically across the West Coast. Climate also changes substantially between Southern California, Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Moving to California
Moving to Oregon
Moving to Washington
Alaska and Hawaii
Moving to Alaska or Hawaii requires different logistics from a typical interstate move. Shipping household goods or vehicles, longer delivery timelines and the cost of replacing belongings locally can influence what you decide to bring.
Moving to Alaska
Moving to Hawaii
Before You Choose Where to Live
Knowing the state isn’t enough. The city, suburb or neighborhood you choose can have a much bigger effect on your everyday expenses and quality of life.
Before signing a lease or buying a home, compare the places you are considering using the factors that actually affect your household.
What Will Housing Really Cost?
Start with rent or the purchase price, but don’t stop there.
Consider:
Property taxes
Homeowners or renters insurance
HOA fees
Electricity and heating
Water and sewer costs
Parking
Maintenance
Flood or wildfire exposure
Commuting costs
A less expensive home can become much less attractive if insurance, utilities or transportation are significantly higher.
How Will Taxes Change?
Your tax situation can change when you establish residency in another state.
Depending on where you move, differences may include:
State income tax
Sales tax
Property tax
Local taxes
Vehicle registration fees
Other state or municipal charges
A state with no individual income tax is not automatically the least expensive place to live. Look at your complete household budget rather than one tax rate.
What Does Insurance Cost at the Actual Address?
Insurance can vary substantially even within the same state.
Before committing to a property, consider whether the area is exposed to:
Hurricanes
Flooding
Wildfires
Tornadoes
Hail
Severe thunderstorms
Earthquakes
Winter storms
If you are buying a home, getting an insurance estimate before closing can help you understand the property’s real monthly cost.
Will Your Transportation Costs Change?
A move can change how often you drive and how much you spend doing it.
Look at:
Distance to work
Highway congestion
Toll roads
Public transportation
Parking costs
School transportation
Distance to shopping and healthcare
Whether your household will need one vehicle or several
An affordable home farther from employment can sometimes mean higher fuel costs, more vehicle wear and a much longer daily commute.
Think Beyond Cost of Living
A generic cost-of-living score can be useful for a quick comparison, but it shouldn’t make the decision for you.
Two households moving to the same state may experience very different costs.
A retiree buying a home outright has different priorities from a family paying for childcare and commuting to work. A remote worker may care more about housing, internet service and taxes. Someone moving for a new job may care most about commute time and proximity to the employer.
Compare the expenses that actually apply to you.
Moving With Children?
If schools matter to your move, evaluate them before choosing the home rather than afterward.
School assignments can depend on the exact address, and neighboring communities may belong to different districts.
Before signing a lease or buying, consider:
Assigned schools
District boundaries
Enrollment requirements
Transportation
Before- and after-school care
Childcare availability
Distance from the home
Verify school assignments directly for the address you are considering.
Buying a Home in Another State?
Buying from another state can make it harder to notice problems that would be obvious in person.
In addition to the home itself, look at:
Property taxes
Insurance availability
Flood or hazard exposure
HOA restrictions and fees
Utility costs
Age of major systems
Commute times
Road access
Nearby development
Local services
When possible, evaluate the specific neighborhood at different times of day rather than judging the area only from listings and maps.
Renting After an Interstate Move?
Renters should consider more than the advertised monthly rent.
Ask about:
Security deposits
Application fees
Parking fees
Pet fees
Utility responsibility
Required renters insurance
Lease terms
Move-in restrictions
Elevator reservations
Building access for movers
Apartment buildings and managed communities may require movers to provide insurance documentation or reserve a specific moving window.
Planning the Actual Interstate Move
Once you know where you’re going, the next question is how to get there.
The right way to move depends on your distance, household size, budget, schedule and how much work you want to do yourself.
Decide What Is Worth Moving
Long-distance moves make it especially important to decide what should come with you.
Go room by room and separate your belongings into:
Move — things you definitely want in the new home.
Sell — belongings that may not be worth transporting.
Donate — usable items you no longer need.
Discard or recycle — things that shouldn’t make the trip.
Large, inexpensive furniture can sometimes cost enough to transport that replacing it after the move makes more sense.
Creating an accurate inventory also makes it easier to receive comparable moving quotes.
Compare Moving Options
Hiring a full-service interstate mover is only one way to relocate.
Depending on your move, you may also consider:
Full-service moving companies
Moving containers
Rental trucks
Labor-only movers
Self-service moving options
Vehicle shipping
Storage
Compare the total cost and responsibility involved rather than looking only at the initial advertised price.
A rental truck may have a lower base rate, for example, but your total can also include fuel, mileage, hotels, tolls, equipment and the time required to load, drive and unload.
Comparing Interstate Movers
If you hire a moving company to transport household goods between states, make sure you understand who you are dealing with before booking.
Check:
Company identity
USDOT information
Whether the company is a carrier or broker
What services are included
Estimate type
Payment requirements
Possible additional charges
Pickup arrangements
Delivery expectations
Valuation or liability options
Cancellation terms
The company offering the lowest initial quote is not necessarily the least expensive once the complete move is considered.
Compare movers using the same inventory, route, services and access information whenever possible. That gives you a much better apples-to-apples comparison.
What Can Change the Cost of an Interstate Move?
Moving from one state to another doesn’t have one meaningful average price.
Your cost can depend on:
Distance
Shipment size
Origin and destination
Move date
Seasonal demand
Packing
Storage
Stairs
Elevators
Long carries
Parking access
Specialty items
Additional stops
Service type
A one-bedroom move from Arizona to Nevada and a four-bedroom household moving from New Jersey to California are both interstate moves, but they have almost nothing in common from a pricing standpoint.
Your own move details matter more than a national average.
Plan for the Time Between Homes
One part of an interstate move that is easy to overlook is the period between leaving one home and settling into the next.
You may arrive before your household shipment.
Keep important belongings with you rather than loading them into the moving truck.
That should include things such as:
Identification
Medications
Financial documents
Moving paperwork
Phones and chargers
Laptops needed for work or school
Several days of clothing
Toiletries
Essential items for children
Essential pet supplies
Valuable or irreplaceable belongings
Also think about where you will stay and what you will need if your new home isn’t immediately available.
Before You Leave Your Current State
A little preparation before moving day can prevent a long list of problems after you arrive.
Before leaving, consider completing or arranging:
Mail forwarding
Utility cancellation or transfer
Medical and dental records
Prescription transfers
School records
Insurance updates
Vehicle documents
Address changes
Moving-company paperwork
Household inventory
Photos of valuable belongings
Keep important documents with you instead of packing them with your household shipment.
After You Arrive in Your New State
Once the boxes are inside, there are still a few things to take care of.
New residents may need to:
Obtain a new driver’s license
Register their vehicle
Update auto insurance
Complete required vehicle inspections
Update voter registration
Update financial accounts
Enroll children in school
Establish new healthcare providers
Update professional or business records when applicable
Each state sets its own deadlines and documentation requirements, so check the rules for your destination rather than assuming they are the same as your previous state.
Get Familiar With Your New Home
During the first few days, locate the home’s:
Main water shutoff
Electrical panel
Gas shutoff, if applicable
Smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguisher
Emergency exits
Also confirm your utility accounts, trash and recycling schedule and any neighborhood or HOA requirements.
Changing exterior locks or access codes may also make sense when moving into a previously occupied home.
Start With Where You’re Going
There is no single checklist that works exactly the same for every interstate move.
Someone moving to Florida may need to think more about hurricane and flood exposure. Someone moving to Minnesota may need to prepare for winter driving and heating costs. A move to Arizona can involve extreme summer heat and major differences between desert and high-elevation communities. Moving to New Jersey may put property taxes and commuting at the top of the list.
Start with your destination state above.
Then look at the specific housing costs, taxes, insurance, weather, transportation, regional differences and new-resident requirements that can affect your move and your life after you arrive.
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