Arkansas to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 994 mile interstate move from Arkansas to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons, food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (traditional and ranch vs victorian and row houses), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings
- DC housing costs are 205% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in DC is 82.33% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to DC will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Arkansas to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Arkansas vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich | Korean Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Black Bean Burger | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Arkansas to DC, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings and Korean Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black Bean Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like Sims Bar-B-Que, McClard's Bar-B-Q, and The Southern Gourmasian. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai CafΓ©, and Busboys and Poets.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and DC
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional and Ranch | Victorian and Row Houses |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Peaceful settings | Proximity to metros, Rooftop decks |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Row Houses architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and peaceful settings, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to metros and rooftop decks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- DC housing costs are 205% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased 8%, compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in DC is 82.33% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and DC
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, floods | Storms, occasional hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 72Β°F | 87Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 32Β°F | 44Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 40" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 15.5" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to DC. DC gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- DC has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential storms and occasional hurricanes in DC.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 5 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and DC
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 8.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Government, Education, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 82% more than those in Arkansas
- The COLI in DC is 55% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in DC is 8.5% compared to 5.9% in AR
- The affluence in DC is high compared to moderate affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is lower in DC compared to a higher level in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and higher in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. DC
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative-leaning | Liberal-leaning |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in local and state elections | Democratic dominance in local government and congressional representation |
Religion | Higher prevalence of Protestants and Evangelicals | Mixed religious landscape with a significant number of non-religious residents |
- Arkansas tends to lean conservative-leaning in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as liberal-leaning
- DC's religious environment can be described as a mixed religious landscape with a significant number of non-religious residents
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a higher prevalence of Protestants and Evangelicals
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to DC
Comparison | Arkansas | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | George Washington University Georgetown University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Elementary (Little Rock) Forest Park Elementary (Fort Smith) Vandergriff Elementary (Fayetteville) | Janney Elementary Mann Elementary Lafayette Elementary (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) LISA Academy (Little Rock) Bentonville Middle School (Bentonville) | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Central High School (Little Rock) | School Without Walls High School Banneker High School Wilson High School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) Mount St. Mary Academy (Little Rock) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The New School (Fayetteville) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Episcopal Collegiate School (Little Rock) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School National Cathedral School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) |
How Much Do Arkansas to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 994 miles from Arkansas to DC will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,766 | 300 ft3 | $5.89 |
1 Bedroom | $2,627 | 450 ft3 | $5.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,340 | 750 ft3 | $5.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,310 | 1100 ft3 | $5.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,099 | 1600 ft3 | $5.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,146 | 1800 ft3 | $5.64 |
Top Arkansas to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.