Best overall value
Local moving companies in Detroit
- Handle With Care Moving: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Palmer Moving Services: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Campus Concepts: Moving & Storage: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Royal Movers Enterprises, LLC: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.58 out of 5 stars
Customer Praise
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Poor complaint handling
- Unexpected charges
Review Analysis
Customers rave about Handle With Care Moving's exceptional efficiency, careful handling of belongings, and courteous, hard-working team. Feedback often highlights polite staff, excellent communication, and rapid, damage-free moves that stand out from other moving companies. Most clients appreciate straightforward estimates, transparent pricing, and how the company keeps moves stress-free. Negative feedback, though rare, centers on occasional item damage, challenges in resolving complaints, and unexpected charges or discrepancies in estimates. Handle With Care outpaces competitors in reliability and professionalism, making it one of the most trusted choices for moves in and out of Ann Arbor. Over 92% of the 249 reviews express strong satisfaction.
Company Info
State license #: 359936
Years in Business: 31
DOT #: 808976
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Lack of communication
- Unexpected charges
Review Analysis
Standout service and attention define customer feedback for Palmer Moving Services. With 250 reviews analyzed, 81% report positive experiences highlighted by professional staff, careful handling of items, efficient processes, strong communication, and timely moves. Customers often mention courteous crews going out of their way to accommodate needs, as well as accurate quotes and seamless execution—attributes that place Palmer ahead of many competitors. Feedback often credits Palmer for reducing moving day stress and protecting property. On the downside, a smaller portion of customers report major concerns such as items damaged during moves, difficulties in reaching staff, and final invoices higher than expected. Lost or mishandled belongings and slow claims resolution also receive criticism, matching common complaints faced by most moving companies. Most customers cite friendly, skilled crews as a strong reason for recommending Palmer, but those experiencing issues see communication gaps and claims processes as areas for improvement.
Company Info
Years in Business: 114
DOT #: 511993
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Customer Praise
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Affordable rates
- Good communication
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Higher-than-expected costs
Review Analysis
Customers are raving about how smoothly Campus Concepts: Moving & Storage handles moving day. Nearly 90% of the 348 reviews are positive, standing out with efficiency, careful handling of belongings, professionalism, fair pricing, and excellent communication. Many mention a courteous and capable moving crew, stress-free organization, and no hidden fees. People appreciate how quickly and gently items are moved, even under challenging conditions such as snowstorms or tight schedules. Some say this company is better—friendlier, faster, and more affordable—compared to other movers they've hired before. Negative feedback makes up less than 10% of reviews, with most complaints centered on occasional damaged items, delayed arrivals without updates, and moves costing more than originally estimated. While infrequent, a few customers describe frustrations about reaching support or compensation for damages. Overall, the strong pattern of positive input shows that Campus Concepts consistently delivers reliable, efficient, and well-priced moving services that outshine many other local options.
Company Info
State license #: 36269
Years in Business: 12
DOT #: 2582190
Alternate Names: Wondermove
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Storage
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Quick moving process
- Affordable rates
Customer Complaints
- Unprofessional behavior
- Unexpected charges
- Lack of communication
Review Analysis
Royal Movers Enterprises, LLC receives standout marks for professionalism, careful handling, speed, and value according to 280 pieces of customer feedback. About three-quarters of the input is positive, highlighting the staff’s courteous approach, affordable pricing, and consistent attention to protecting belongings and property during quick moves. Customers frequently mention thorough furniture wrapping, clear communication, and efficiency—traits that set Royal Movers apart from larger competitors, who customers sometimes cite as less careful or more expensive. Yet, a quarter of reviewers describe troubling experiences, with multiple reports of rude or unprofessional behavior, pricing disputes, and lack of clear updates or responsiveness. Unprofessional conduct, surprise cost increases, and breakdowns in communication form the backbone of these complaints. Royal Movers stands out for affordable, careful, and efficient service, but potential clients should be aware that some have encountered significant issues with customer service and billing transparency.
Company Info
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 1673815
Alternate Names: Royal Movers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Customer Praise
- Professional and polite staff
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Quick moving process
- Helpful movers
Customer Complaints
- Damage to items
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Delayed arrival or delivery
Review Analysis
Moving stress relieved—that's the story from Two Men and a Truck feedback. Analyzing 247 reviews, 91.5% praised professional, efficient, and helpful teams. Customers repeatedly mention the staff's professionalism, careful handling of belongings, quick moving process, and friendly attitude. Moves are characterized by clear communication and efficient service, often finishing ahead of schedule, which sets this company apart from many competitors.
Negative input, making up 8.5%, highlights concerns over damaged items, unexpectedly high costs, and occasional delays. The most frequent complaints involve property damage and dissatisfaction with pricing or response to claims. While most moves go smoothly, customers seeking extra assurance about item safety or cost transparency should review their options.
Compared to typical moving services, Two Men and a Truck consistently delivers on professionalism and speed, with far fewer complaints about lateness or mishandling. The overwhelmingly positive response suggests the company is a reliable choice for most moving needs.
Company Info
DOT #: 2527384
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Key factors that impact the cost of your Detroit to Lancaster move
What to know before moving from Detroit to Lancaster
Moving from Detroit to Lancaster comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Lancaster is generally more expensive than Detroit, 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:
| Detroit | Lancaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,250 | $2,600 |
| Average home value | $73,156 | $473,053 |
| Average income (per capita) | $37,761 | $74,723 |
| Cost of living (single person) | $2,500 | $2,540 |
| Cost of living (family of 4) | $6,687 | $5,562 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.06% | 15.6% |
| Sales tax | 6.0% | 10.25% |
| State income tax | 4.25% | 13.3% |
- You may want to budget more for rent in Lancaster, since prices are typically 108% higher than in Detroit.
- The home prices in Lancaster are 546.6% higher than in Detroit, which could mean saving up before buying a home, taking on a bigger mortgage, or downsizing.
- You’re likely to make a higher income living in Lancaster, where incomes are, on average, 97.9% higher than in Detroit. Major employers in Lancaster include Antelope Valley Hospital, Antelope Valley Union High School District, and Lancaster School District.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Lancaster, since the cost of living for a single person in Lancaster is 1.6% higher than in Detroit. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- A move to Lancaster can help cut down on a family’s routine expenses, including utilities, transportation, and groceries. The cost of living for a family of four is 16.8% less than what it costs in Detroit.
- The unemployment rate in Lancaster is 72.19% higher than in Detroit.
- Shopping and dining out will likely be a little pricier in Lancaster, since its sales taxes are 70.83% higher than what you are paying in Detroit.
- State income taxes in Lancaster are 212.94% higher than in Detroit.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,048.00 in Lancaster to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Detroit.
How life is different in Detroit vs. Lancaster
| Lancaster | Detroit | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 173,516 | 639,111 |
| AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 0 | 7 |
| Walkability score | 29 | 51 |
| Bike friendliness score | 40 | 52 |
| Crime Index | 45.5 | 72.92 |
| Safety Index | 54.5 | 27.08 |
| Air Quality | Good | Good |
- Lancaster might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 73% less than Detroit.
- Getting around Lancaster without a car might be more difficult than in Detroit. Lancaster has a public transportation score of 0 out of 10, whereas Detroit is ranked 7. Ratings are based on a city's transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
- Lancaster neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Detroit. Based on its score of 29 out of 100, Lancaster isn't as walkable as Detroit, which has a score of 51 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 Lancaster, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Detroit. While Detroit has a bike-friendliness score of 52 out of 100, Lancaster earned a 40. 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.
- Lancaster has a lower crime rate than Detroit based on scores of 45.5 and Detroit's 72.92, 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 Lancaster than in Detroit, based on Lancaster's safety index of 54.5 versus 27.08 for Detroit. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
- The air quality in Lancaster and Detroit is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.
Other things to consider for your Detroit vs. Lancaster move
- Weather: If you're looking to move to Lancaster, consider doing this on the months of May, October and April. Summers are hot and nearly rainless while winter could be mildly cold.
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
- State licensing: When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: You can verify a California moving company's license by visiting the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won't need a moving permit in California, though it's smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly to Lancaster Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in Lancaster
With your sights set on , these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Lancaster.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Downtown Lancaster
- Central Lancaster
- East Lancaster
- College Terrace
- Skytower Park
Best neighborhoods for families
- Quartz Hill
- West Lancaster
- Rancho Vista
- Brentwood
- El Dorado
Things to do in Lancaster
Once you're settled into your new home in California, it's time to get out and discover what Lancaster has to offer. No matter your interests, there's something for everyone here:
- Arts and culture: Cultural attractions in Lancaster include museums and art centers like the Lancaster Museum of Art & History, Western Hotel Museum, and Boyle Heights History Studios & Tours.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Apollo Community Regional Park, Saddleback Butte State Park, and Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park — and more, offering great opportunities to hike, bike, or relax in nature.
- Sports: Nothing beats the thrill of cheering on the home team at an game.
source: AttractionsofAmerica
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Detroit to Lancaster?
The best time to move from Detroit to Lancaster is during the spring or fall. These seasons offer milder weather and avoid higher moving costs during the peak moving season in Detroit.
When is the cheapest time to move from Detroit to Lancaster?
With many people choosing to move from Detroit to Lancaster in spring or fall, winter moves often come with better rates. Take a look at our moving discounts guide to find out how to save.
How long does a move from Detroit to Lancaster take?
The 2,264-mile move from Detroit, MI, to Lancaster, CA, takes seven to 18 days. Some Detroit movers may offer expedited moving if you need it faster. If you need more time, ask your mover about storage options in Lancaster.
