Best overall value
Local moving companies in Fresno
- Meathead Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Courtesy Moving and Storage: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Economy Movers: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Colonial Van & Storage: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Master Movers: 4.48 out of 5 stars
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Delayed arrival or delivery
Review Analysis
Moving made easy—Meathead Movers stands out with high marks in professionalism and careful handling. This analysis covers 500 pieces of customer feedback, and more than 84% express satisfaction. Most note that staff are polite, diligent, and truly careful with belongings. Many customers praise efficient service and rapid moving, while raving about clear and helpful communication. A few customers report concerns about damages to furniture or their homes, highlighting the need for better item protection. Several mention higher-than-expected final costs and, less often, late arrivals. Compared to other services, Meathead Movers receives more consistent praise for reliability and courteous movers, but some buyers find their rates steep or worry about occasional lapses in item care. Anyone searching for an efficient, dependable moving company with a professional attitude will find Meathead Movers excels where service and courtesy matter most, though they should pay close attention to pricing and confirm all details before moving day.
Company Info
State license #: 0189849
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 921143
Alternate Names: Meathead Movers, Inc., Princess Packers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Helpful movers
- Affordable rates
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Unexpected charges
- Misplaced or lost items
Review Analysis
Courtesy Moving and Storage receives praise in over three-quarters of feedback for professionalism, careful item handling, and efficiency. Clients often describe staff as courteous and helpful and outside reviews highlight affordable rates compared to other moving companies. Many customers report stress-free moving days, accurate or lower-than-estimated prices, and no damage to belongings. Some negative input points to damaged or lost items, unanticipated charges, and trouble with claim or issue resolution. Speed and teamwork set this company apart, but unresolved problems and inconsistencies with pricing have led to dissatisfaction for some. Out of 93 reviews, 76% are favorable, making Courtesy Moving and Storage a strong contender but with a few notable drawbacks compared to competitors.
Company Info
State license #: 191184
Years in Business: 51
DOT #: 3119841
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Customer Praise
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Affordable rates
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Lack of communication
Review Analysis
Moving made easy and affordable—most customers praise Economy Movers for their quick, efficient service, careful handling of belongings, and professional staff. Out of 256 feedback entries, 89% are positive, with clients routinely mentioning reasonable rates and moves finished ahead of schedule. Friendly communication and help with heavy or specialty items stand out in the input, making Economy Movers a strong choice versus typical moving companies that often fall short on reliability or care. Still, some customers highlight problems like item damage or delays, especially for long-distance moves, and occasional issues with communication before or after a job. A few mention belongings arriving late or unresolved claims, underscoring the importance of insurance and clear communication for complex moves. Most people find the company's value, speed, and careful approach hard to beat.
Company Info
State license #: 0190355
Years in Business: 54
DOT #: 1011944
Alternate Names: United Van Lines AGT, Packaging Store
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Good communication
- Careful handling
- Affordable rates
- Efficient service
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Lack of communication
Review Analysis
Customers regularly call out Colonial Van & Storage's professionalism and attentive staff, highlighting clear communication, care in handling, fast service, and affordability. Many mention excellent experiences with organized crews and well-informed sales representatives. These strengths set Colonial ahead of other movers, earning praise for reliability and value. On the other hand, a significant number of customers report damaged or missing items, late deliveries, and communication breakdowns, sometimes involving difficulties with claims or refunds. Around 60% of feedback is positive, while nearly a third points to serious problems with item condition and timeliness. In comparison to industry standards, Colonial's customer service stands out positively for politeness and responsiveness, but recurring damage and delays may be concerns for those prioritizing item safety above all.
Company Info
State license #: 0099536
Years in Business: 54
DOT #: 2973
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Efficient service
- Quick moving process
- Affordable rates
- Careful handling
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Lack of communication
- Inaccurate estimates
Review Analysis
Master Movers draws strong praise for fast, organized moves and a team known for professionalism and courtesy. Customers describe a smooth booking process, competitive pricing, and careful handling of belongings, placing Master Movers ahead of many competitors in reliability. Feedback shows 78% gave positive input out of 37 total reviews. Office staff and crews were often called polite and efficient. Many highlighted affordable rates, clear communication, and prompt arrivals.
Some responses noted issues with item damage, lack of communication, and price discrepancies, especially in complex or long-distance moves. Complaints also included poor packing and delays in handling claims. While most moves were completed quickly without hidden charges, about 19% of reviews cited main concerns with care and follow-through on promises. Master Movers’ positive reputation stands firmly on consistency and value, though extra attention to claim handling and item protection on long hauls could set them even further apart.
Company Info
State license #: 190355
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Factors that influence moving costs from Fresno to Columbus
What to know before moving from Fresno to Columbus
Moving from Fresno to Columbus comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Columbus is generally more expensive than Fresno, it's important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.
Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:
| Fresno | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,650 | $1,441 |
| Average home value | $381,180 | $238,832 |
| Average income (per capita) | $63,001 | $65,075 |
| Cost of living (single person) | $2,277 | $2,784 |
| Cost of living (family of 4) | $5,358 | $7,249 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.09% | 5.7% |
| Sales tax | 7.98% | 7.5% |
| State income tax | 13.3% | 3.5% |
- Rent prices in Columbus are 13% lower than in Fresno, which means you'll have more money in your pocket each month.
-
In terms of homeownership, you'll be able to get more for your money in Columbus.
Home prices in Columbus are 37.3% lower than in Fresno. - You’re likely to make a higher income living in Columbus, where incomes are, on average, 3.3% higher than in Fresno. Major employers in Columbus include Ohio State University, The State of Ohio, and JPMorgan Chase.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Columbus, since the cost of living for a single person in Columbus is 22.3% higher than in Fresno. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- If you're moving your family to Columbus, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Columbus is 35.3% higher than in Fresno.
- The unemployment rate in Columbus is 19.61% lower than in Fresno.
- You'll spend less on retail and restaurants in Columbus, since the city's sales taxes in Columbus are 6.02% lower than in Fresno.
- One perk of moving to Columbus is paying less in state income taxes, which are 73.68% lower than in Fresno.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,667.98 in Columbus to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Fresno.
How life is different in Fresno vs. Columbus
| Columbus | Fresno | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 905,748 | 542,107 |
| AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 5 | 5 |
| Walkability score | 41 | 47 |
| Bike friendliness score | 48 | 58 |
| Crime Index | 49.65 | 56.85 |
| Safety Index | 50.35 | 43.15 |
| Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
- The population of Columbus is about 67% greater than Fresno, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
- Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Columbus will be about the same as it currently is in Fresno. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
- Columbus neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Fresno. Based on its score of 41 out of 100, Columbus isn't as walkable as Fresno, which has a score of 47 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
- You probably won't see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Columbus, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Fresno. While Fresno has a bike-friendliness score of 58 out of 100, Columbus earned a 48. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
- Columbus has a lower crime rate than Fresno based on scores of 49.65 and Fresno's 56.85, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
- You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Columbus than in Fresno, based on Columbus's safety index of 50.35 versus 43.15 for Fresno. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
- You can breathe easy knowing that Columbus has better air quality than in Fresno. Columbus has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Fresno. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.
Other things to consider for your Fresno vs. Columbus move
- Weather: Columbus doesn't get the snowfall that more northern Ohio gets but it does have some of the severe weather that's common in the midwest such as strong lightning storms and hail. In general, you can expect all 4 seasons in Columbus so take that into account when choosing the time of the year that you move.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
- Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
- State licensing: Although a local license is not required in Ohio, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Ohio moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: Ohio does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state. We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move.
- Change of address: You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Columbus. Get started here.
- Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance. Opt for cost-free Released Value Protection from movers, offering minimal coverage with a maximum liability of 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, explore alternatives with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you\'ve got everything covered.
Where to live in Columbus
Now that you've decided to make the move to Arch City, these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Columbus.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Downtown
- Short North
- Victorian Village
- Clintonville
- Grandview Heights
Best neighborhoods for families
- Bexley
- Clintonville
- Gahanna
- Hilliard
- Upper Arlington
Things to do in Columbus
Once you're settled into your new home in Ohio, it's time to get out and discover what Columbus has to offer. No matter your interests, there's something for everyone here:
- Arts and culture: Columbus features a variety of museums and cultural arts centers, including the Beeler Gallery, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Central Ohio Fire Museum, Columbus Historical Society, and Columbus Museum of Art.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Scioto Mile, Topiary Garden, and Schiller Park — among other spots — perfect for hiking, biking, or simply soaking up the outdoors.
- Sports: Grab a seat and root for the home team during an Columbus Crew (MLS), Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), or Columbus Clippers (AAAE) game.
source: AttractionsofAmerica
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Fresno to Columbus?
If you're flexible with timing, spring and fall are great seasons to move from Fresno to Columbus. You'll dodge the heat, the crowds, and the higher moving costs typical of peak season in Fresno.
When is the cheapest time to move from Fresno to Columbus?
Since spring and fall are the most popular times to move from Fresno to Columbus moving in the winter could help you save money. Check out our guide on moving discounts for more tips.
How long does a move from Fresno to Columbus take?
Covering 2,367 miles, the move from Fresno, CA to Columbus, OH typically takes seven to 18 days. Some Fresno movers may offer faster options, and if your timing is flexible, storage services in Columbus can help bridge the gap.
