Arkansas to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 2,204 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs mild temperatures), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Salmon), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pho
- Washington housing costs are 191% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Washington is 49.81% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Arkansas to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Washington
- Hot summers
- Limited public transportation
- Few job opportunities in tech
- Lack of coastal scenery
- Lower cultural diversity
- Mild temperatures
- Extensive transit options
- Thriving tech industry
- Beautiful coastlines
- Rich cultural diversity
- Higher cost of living
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- Heavier traffic congestion
- Urban anonymity
- Rainy weather
- Lower cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Fewer traffic jams
- Friendly communities
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Washington
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to mild temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transportation and moving to Washington with extensive transit options
- Swap the few job opportunities in tech in Arkansas for a thriving tech industry in Washington
- Get ready for beautiful coastlines in Washington
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Arkansas to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace of life and have to settle with the con of a faster-paced lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to fewer traffic jams and get used to heavier traffic congestion in Washington
- Swap friendly communities for urban anonymity
Arkansas vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Pho |
Most popular street food item | Fried Pickles | Teriyaki |
Most popular vegan food | Black Bean Burgers | Tempeh Reuben |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Fried Pickles, Washington residents know they have tasty Pho and Teriyaki to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black Bean Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, South on Main, and The Southern Gourmasian. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, and Pike Place Chowder.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Washington
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Craftsman | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, liveability | Eco-friendly features, views |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and livability, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly attributes and views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Washington housing costs are 191% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Washington is 49.81% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Washington
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F/70Β°F | 75Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F/30Β°F | 47Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 47 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Washington. Washington gets 30% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas and be on the lookout for potential volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 15 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Washington
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.61% | 0.92% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 6.5% - 9.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 65% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Washington is 15% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to modest affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is lower in Washington compared to moderate poverty in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and higher in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Washington
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative-leaning | Liberal-leaning |
Local Politics | Strong Republican presence in local governance | Strong Democratic presence in local governance |
Religion | Higher religious affiliation, predominantly Christian | Less religiously affiliated, diverse religious communities |
- Arkansas tends to lean conservative-leaning in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as liberal-leaning
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with diverse religious communities
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having higher religious affiliation and being predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Washington
Comparison | Arkansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary Little Rock Root Elementary School Fayetteville Parkway Elementary Bryant | Cascade K-8 Community School Shoreline Briarwood Elementary School Issaquah Discovery Elementary School Gig Harbor |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville Thaden School Bentonville Lisa Academy North Middle Sherwood | International School Bellevue Environmental & Adventure School Kirkland Explorer Community School Redmond |
Top 3 High School Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville Thaden School Bentonville Bentonville High School Bentonville | Lakeside School Seattle International School Bellevue Newport Senior High School Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | Subiaco Academy Subiaco Pulaski Academy Little Rock Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock | Lakeside School Seattle The Overlake School Redmond Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School Little Rock Lisa Academy Little Rock Arkansas Arts Academy Rogers | The Bear Creek School Redmond Seattle Academy Seattle Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville School District Bryant School District | Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Arkansas to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,204 miles from Arkansas to Washington will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,452 | 300 ft3 | $8.17 |
1 Bedroom | $3,655 | 450 ft3 | $8.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,055 | 750 ft3 | $8.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,826 | 1100 ft3 | $8.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,757 | 1600 ft3 | $7.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,262 | 1800 ft3 | $7.92 |
Top Arkansas to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Arkansas to Washington