Embedded Files
Most of the resources listed here appear throughout the guide, but we’ve gathered them in one place for quick access. You’ll also find additional tools and references in this section to support your planning and help make your transition as smooth as possible.
Stage 1 | Research
Stage 1 | Research
The resources below include tools featured throughout Stage 1, along with additional resources to support the research process.
Stage 1.1 | Choose a Destination
Stage 1.1 | Choose a Destination
Best Places is a city comparison website that lets you explore population trends, cost of living, average rent, crime rates, taxes, air quality, climate, economy, voting patterns, and more. Some features are free, but full access requires a premium subscription.
AreaVibes is a free alternative that uses livability scores to compare cities based on amenities, cost of living, crime, employment, housing, and school quality. While it’s less detailed than Best Places, it still provides helpful insight for early research.
World Population Review offers a cost of living index that lets you explore expenses by state. To estimate the income you’ll need in your new location to maintain your current lifestyle, you can also use a cost-of-living calculator for side-by-side comparisons.
Stage 1.3 | Living Options
Stage 1.3 | Living Options
Safe roommate finding websites:
Apartment/house hunting websites:
Stage 2 | Plan
Stage 2 | Plan
The resources below include tools featured throughout Stage 2 to support the planning process.
Stage 2.1 | Move Options
Stage 2.1 | Move Options
Rental Truck Options
Moving Companies
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (2022) Booklet
Stage 2.2 | Budget
Stage 2.2 | Budget
Budgeting Apps
Stage 2.3 | Packing
Stage 2.3 | Packing
Stage 3 | Paperwork
Stage 3 | Paperwork
The resources below include tools featured throughout Stage 3 to support the paperwork process.
Stage 3.1 | Change Your Address
Stage 3.1 | Change Your Address
Postal System: USPS
Federal Taxes: irs.gov
Social Security: SSA Account
Veterans Benefits: va.gov
DMV: usa.gov
Voter Registration: usa.gov
Note: The DMV and voter registration links both lead to different sections of the same government website. Once there, simply select your new state to view the specific steps and requirements for updating your DMV records and voter registration information.
Stage 3.4 | Legal & Residency
Stage 3.4 | Legal & Residency
Voter Registration
The IRS provides a list of all U.S. states, allowing you to select your state and navigate directly to its official government website for legal and tax-related information.
Stage 4 | Move
Stage 4 | Move
The resources below include tools featured throughout Stage 4 to support the move process.
Stage 4.1 | Travel Plans
Stage 4.1 | Travel Plans
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
The resources below include additional tools that don’t fit within a specific stage but are designed to support you throughout your entire moving journey. These materials also help inform future updates to the site as we continue improving GIR based on user needs and feedback.
Moving out of state can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Visit our GIR Community Padlet to ask questions and share advice with others who have completed or are preparing for an interstate move. It’s a collaborative space to learn from real experiences.
To help strengthen the design and content of GIR, please consider sharing your feedback through our anonymous Google Form. Your input directly contributes to improving the guide’s effectiveness. Thank you for your support.
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