Arkansas to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 846 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs milder weather), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Ham), real estate & housing (traditional and craftsman vs colonial and cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Ham & Virginia BBQ
- Virginia housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Virginia is 39.08% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Arkansas to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Virginia
- Hot summers
- Limited job market
- Fewer cultural events
- Rural living
- Milder weather
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Rich cultural scene
- Urban centers
- Higher living expenses
- Faster lifestyle
- More transient cities
- Urban sprawl
- Low cost of living
- Slower pace
- Close-knit communities
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Virginia
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Virginia with diverse employment opportunities
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Arkansas for a rich cultural scene in Virginia
- Get ready for urban centers in Virginia
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Arkansas to live with higher living expenses in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace and have to settle with the con of a faster lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to more transient cities in Virginia
- Swap natural beauty for urban sprawl
Arkansas vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Virginia BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Food Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato Quinoa Burger | Avocado Toast |
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 Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Virginia residents know they have tasty Virginia BBQ and Food Truck Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Sweet Potato Quinoa Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like McClard's BBQ, South on Main, and Doe's Eat Place. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Mama J's Kitchen, and Le Diplomate.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Virginia
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional and Craftsman | Colonial and Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Historical significance, proximity to amenities |
- The Traditional and Craftsman architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features such as historical significance and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Virginia is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Virginia is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Virginia housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Virginia is 39.08% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Virginia
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 86Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 48Β°F / 28Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 25" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Virginia. Virginia gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Virginia 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 hurricanes and nor'easters in Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 4 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 6 inches less rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Virginia
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 4.9% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.61% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Technology, Government, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Noticeable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 55% more than those in Arkansas
- The COLI in Virginia is 7% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 4.9% in AR
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to noticeable poverty in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Virginia
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, Republican-leaning | Moderately liberal, Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Local governments and policies tend to reflect state-wide conservative values | Varies significantly; urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas can be more conservative |
Religion | Highly religious, Christian majority (Baptist predominant) | Moderately religious, diverse religious communities |
- Arkansas tends to lean conservative and Republican-leaning in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal and Democratic-leaning
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as moderately religious with diverse religious communities
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious with a Christian majority, predominantly Baptist
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Virginia
Comparison | Arkansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School Little Rock; Vandergriff Elementary School Fayetteville; Forest Park Elementary School Little Rock | Arlington Science Focus School Arlington; Westbriar Elementary School Vienna; Lucketts Elementary School Leesburg |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; LISA Academy North Sherwood; McNair Middle School Fayetteville | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Cooper Middle School McLean; Henley Middle School Crozet |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy Bentonville; Bentonville High School Bentonville; Fayetteville High School Fayetteville | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; McLean High School McLean; Langley High School McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy Little Rock; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock; Subiaco Academy Subiaco | The Potomac School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond; The Madeira School McLean |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Arkansas Baptist School System Little Rock; The New School Fayetteville; Subiaco Academy Subiaco | Norfolk Academy Norfolk; Flint Hill School Oakton; Collegiate School Richmond |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District; Fayetteville Public Schools; Rogers School District | Fairfax County Public Schools; Loudoun County Public Schools; Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Arkansas to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 846 miles from Arkansas to Virginia will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,682 | 300 ft3 | $5.61 |
1 Bedroom | $2,501 | 450 ft3 | $5.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,130 | 750 ft3 | $5.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,003 | 1100 ft3 | $5.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,651 | 1600 ft3 | $5.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,643 | 1800 ft3 | $5.36 |
Top Arkansas to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.