Moving from California to Indiana is a long distance trip. But what would provoke that? Aren’t people moving to California and why exactly Indiana? The Hoosiers State is a hidden gem!
The Midwest and the southern Pacific coast are nearly a country apart, so be prepared for a lengthy road trip. The total distance between the Hoosiers capital of Indianapolis and San Francisco – one of the busiest cities in California is about 2270 miles. So, be prepared for at least five or six days behind the wheel. However, the road trip would be worth it. You’ll get to visit places like:
- North Platte
- Cheyenne
- Salt Lake City
- Elko
- Reno
There are a good number of sights along the way. If you’re up for bigger breaks then check out:
- University of Iowa
- Temple Square
- Liberty Park
- Tracy Aviary
- Truckee River
Say goodbye to California!
One might think that leaving California and moving all the way up to Indiana is absurd. And it might sounds like a good point, the Golden State is an all-rounder – good economy, booming IT industry, golden beaches, the warmth of sun all day every day, and the glamor of Hollywood. Why bother leaving?
Economy
California’s GDP is $3 trillion and GDP per capita is $76,058. This can be considered a decent income, however, the cost of living in California is one of the highest in the United States. Thus, the economy really is not thriving. It is becoming more expensive to live in the Golden State and that is why many choose to leave.
The unemployment rate was about 4 % in November 2022, some stats say, but it reality it is way higher. The largest state employers in the state are Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the University of California.
California is home to an impressive 57 Fortune 500 companies. Chevron, Hewlett-Packard, McKesson, Wells Fargo, and Safeway top the list. They are accompanied by the offshoots of giants like Apple, Intel, and Google. But that is just a small percentage of the population employed with these corporations.
Education
The largest university in California State University with two campuses in Los Angeles and Northridge. Stanford University is the flagship of higher education in California. The 8,180-acre campus is one of the largest in the United States with more than 17,000 students. Caltech is one of the most popular universities in California today. Provide highly skilled talent for the above industries.
Other large and well-known universities include California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), California State University Northridge (CSUN), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Infrastructure and transportation
California has a well-developed road infrastructure. The Golden Gate Bridge, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, and the four-story interchange are all engineering feats designed to ease heavy traffic in California.
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the state’s most famous landmarks. It has the longest main span of any suspension bridge in the world at 4,200 feet between 1937 and 1964. The road bridge is painted orange and offers a panoramic view of the bay. It is a popular tourist attraction and can also accommodate walkers and cyclists.
Disadvantages of living in California
The unique combination of climate, sheer size and population poses serious problems for the Golden State. This has led many to consider moving from California to Indiana. With the costs of living skyrocketing in 2022, many skilled professionals are leaving the state and looking for work elsewhere. Prices of groceries, gas, home prices, and rent are some of the highest in the country.
Moreover, urbanization in California is getting worse. This leads to four main problems:
- Heavy traffic
- Environmental pollution
- High crime rate
- Homelessness
When it comes to prices, we can’t ignore taxes. California has a progressive tax system. It just means that as you earn more money, your income tax rates will increase. Every extra dollar earned. Property taxes in many counties are also some of the highest in the US.
Finally, California is prone to natural disasters. Drought, forest fires, landslides and earthquakes are very common.
Welcome to Indiana – The Crossroads of America!
Indiana is a state in the American Midwest bordering small part of Lake Michigan to the north. It is 38th largest and 17th by population. The state of Indiana has been developing very well in the last few years with many young people moving to Indianapolis metro. Being the capital of the state, Indianapolis offer jobs and well developed city limits.
Economy
Indiana has a strong economy with a GDP of $352.62 billion and a GDP per capita close to $50,000, which is about the average in the US.The backbone of Indiana’s economy is its pharmaceutical and medical equipment, automobiles, electrical equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, rubber, petroleum and coal products, and plant machinery. However, many tech companies have opened offices in Indianapolis which acts as a magnet for young people.
The state’s largest employers are Deaconess Health System, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Ascension St. Vincent Health System, and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. Five Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Indiana – WellPoint, Eli Lilly, Cummins, NiSource, and Conseco.
Indiana’s Famous Auto Industry
Indianapolis was an early center of automobile manufacturing and design. For a brief period in the early 1900s, Indianapolis looked like it might compete with Detroit for leadership in the American auto industry. By 1910, Indianapolis was the fourth-largest automobile city after Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland. Unlike the Michigan manufacturers, however, none of the Indianapolis companies achieved mass production.
Indianapolis may have produced as many as 90 cars and 5 motorcycles, most of which were produced in small batches in just a few years. Atlas Knight (1912–1913), Economycar (1914), Hoosier Scout (1914), and Pathfinder (1911–1918) are easily forgotten by their owners.
Today
Northeast Indiana has been a leader in automotive manufacturing for more than a century—a testament to the region’s rich resources, strong engineering talent pool, and business-friendly environment. Indiana is the second-largest U.S. automaker, producing 1.3 million trucks and sedans annually, with a combined output value of about $102 billion. Northeast Indiana’s automotive manufacturing infrastructure is unrivaled, with 21 Tier 1 suppliers offering a diverse product line. Notable companies that have achieved success in the region include General Motors (which has invested more than $23 billion in northeastern Indiana over the past decade) and Dana Corp., a global leader in power-train and electric propulsion systems.
Education
Sixty colleges and universities in Indiana, excluding affiliates, offer opportunities to those wishing to study further. The Higher Learning Commission is a regional accrediting agency in partnership with Indiana University.
The largest educational institution is Indiana University, whose flagship campus was recognized as Indiana Theological Seminary in 1820. Indiana State University, founded in 1865, is the state’s regular school; Purdue University, founded in 1869, is a land-grant college. Three other independent public universities are Vincennes University (founded by Indiana in 1801), Ball State University (1918), and Southern Indiana University (1965 as ISU-Evansville).
The Indiana Ivy Technical Community College System serves nearly 200,000 students each year, making it the largest public institution of higher education in the state and the largest individually accredited statewide community college system in the country. In 2008, the Indiana University System agreed to transfer the majority (2-year) degrees of its staff to the Ivy Tech Community College System.
Infrastructure
The state motto is “The Crossroads of America”, and for good reason. Many major interstates such as I-64, I-65, I-265, I-465, I-865, I-69, I-469, I-70, I-74, I-80, I -90, I-94, and I-275 cross Indiana. The various highways that cross in and around Indianapolis, as well as its historic status as a major railroad hub and the canals that once traversed Indiana, are also the source of the state’s motto. The Indiana Department of Transportation also maintains many U.S. routes and interstates. These numbers use the same conventions as US highways. In Indiana, different classes of highways may share the same number. For example, I-64 and Indiana State Route 64 both exist in Indiana (very close), but they are two distinct and unrelated roads.
Free time
Indiana provides quite a few opportunities to spend quality free time. There are five professional sports teams in Indianapolis alone – Indianapolis Colts (with their famous cheerleaders), Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, the Indianapolis Indians, and the Indiana Ice. Besides that there are many state parks all across the state. Indiana Dunes State Park at Lake Michigan being one of the favorites during summer.
Tourism
When traveling through Indiana, be sure to visit the following:
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, Indianapolis
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
- Motor Speedway Museum
- The Campus of Indiana University at Bloomington
- The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500, also officially known as the Indianapolis 500 Mile or simply the Indy 500, is an annual car race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in suburban Indianapolis. The event is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend, usually the last weekend in May.
It is part of the IndyCar series, the highest level of the American Championship, an open-wheel, open-cockpit formula commonly referred to as “IndyCar.” The track itself was nicknamed “Brick” because the surface of the track was paved with bricks in the fall of 1909. Leave a one-meter brick on the start/finish line.
The first race took place in 1911 and was won by Ray Harroun. The event celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011 and held its 100th edition in 2016.
Disadvantages of living in Indiana
Indiana is a great place with tons of jobs, low taxes, great colleges and four different seasons, but will the downsides of Indiana make you want to move away after awhile?
Indiana is not a particularly green state. The state has developed heavy industry and no green energy, which in itself is a major disadvantage. Drug addiction could be considered higher than in some other states. Public transport is still developing. The food scene is not very impressive either, especially if you are coming from a place such as California.
Moving from California to Indiana final thoughts
One might think that leaving California and moving west to Indiana is a preposterous idea. However, many factors point out that Hoosiers State is a legit option.
Los Angeles is enormous, even compared to a city of a respectable size as Indianapolis. However, the median income in LA is only slightly larger than that in the Indiana’s capital. But that does not go for the costs – groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and especially housing are vastly more expensive than those in Indianapolis. The unemployment rate in the Golden State is way higher and so is commute time.
The Golden State is a great place to live in. However, it requires a gold mine to help you sustain a normal lifestyle. Or, at least, a career in Hollywood. The high prices, combined with the pollution and urbanization make moving from California to Indiana a great idea.
Shipping a car from California to Indiana
When it comes time to moving, are you driving or shipping your car? If you prefer not to drive, then the other best option is to ship your vehicle. the cost is not as high as many first time shippers expect.
Several variables affect the final cost of shipping a car from California to Indiana. The vehicle makes and models, together with the distance set the base price. Then the choice of carrier type contributes to higher or lower rates.
Shipping a car from California to Indiana takes about 5 to 7 days. Several factors affect the shipping timetables, which means that shipping time is always an estimate. Open auto transport is usually faster.
How to register a car in Indiana
After moving to Indiana, you have 60 days to file a registration form with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. However, you must first obtain the Indiana title for the car you own.
Online registration requires an Indiana title associated with the vehicle, and you must register within 45 days of purchasing the vehicle. After applying for a title, visit the BVM online registration form and create an account or log into an old account.
Be prepared to fill in:
- Your Indiana driver’s license number.
- Ownership information for your vehicle.
- Pay the registration fee (see “Vehicle Registration Fee” below).
If you do not register within 45 days, you will need to contact your local BMV to complete the vehicle registration. Replacing your registration online For users with a my BMV username, you can replace your registration on their website.
Have the following information ready:
- Header information.
- Driver’s license number.
- $6.25 replacement registration fee.
In Indiana, you cannot register your car by mail, but if you are applying for title from another state, you can mail a title deed application (Form 44049). Once registration is complete, the vehicle can be registered online.
Hopefully all of these was helpful! Congratulations on your moving to Indiana!
