California to Ohio Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 2,441 mile interstate move from California to Ohio? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Ohio across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs lower housing prices), food & health (like Avocado Toast vs Buckeye Candy), real estate & housing (modern, spanish vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Avocado Toast and Tri-tip BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Buckeye Candy & Cincinnati Chili
- Ohio housing costs are 72% less expensive than they are in California
- Rent in Ohio is 46.90% more affordable than in California
- Moving from California to Ohio will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended California to Ohio movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
California to Ohio Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Ohio
- High living costs
- Heavy traffic
- Wildfire risks
- Higher taxes
- Earthquake risks
- Lower housing prices
- Less congestion
- More stable weather
- Lower taxes
- No earthquakes
- Few water bodies
- Less cultural diversity
- Cold winters
- Fewer tech jobs
- Quieter nightlife
- Beaches
- Diverse culture
- Mild winters
- Tech opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from California to Ohio
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to lower housing prices
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Ohio with less congestion
- Swap the wildfire risks of California for more stable weather in Ohio
- Get ready for lower taxes in Ohio
Cons of moving from California to Ohio
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beaches in California to live with few water bodies in Ohio
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to cold winters in Ohio
- Swap tech opportunities for fewer tech jobs
California vs. Ohio: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Avocado Toast | Buckeye Candy |
Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip BBQ | Cincinnati Chili |
Most popular street food item | Fish Tacos | Polish Boy |
Most popular vegan food | Smoothie Bowls | Vegan Pierogi |
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 California to Ohio, you will be trading the iconic Avocado Toast of California for the equally delicious Buckeye Candy of Ohio. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful Tri-tip BBQ and sumptuous Fish Tacos, Ohio residents know they have tasty Cincinnati Chili and Polish Boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Smoothie Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pierogi of Ohio. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and The French Laundry. After the boxes are unpacked in Ohio, don't wait too long before making your way to Ohio's acclaimed eateries like Schmidt's Sausage Haus, Slyman's, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.
When comparing lifestyles, Ohio shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Ohio compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Ohio.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between California and Ohio
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, Spanish | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, Outdoor living | Family-friendly, Spacious yards |
- The Modern and Spanish architecture that California is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Ohio.
- Compared to California's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and outdoor living, Ohio real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Ohio is less walkable than California.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Ohio is less bike-friendly than California.
- Ohio has less of an urban feel than California.
- Ohio housing costs are 72% less expensive than they are in California, with a median home price of $223,135 compared to Californiaβs $783,666.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Ohio have increased by 49% compared to a 42% increase in California.
- Rent in Ohio is 46.90% more affordable than in California.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between California and Ohio
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, wildfires | Tornadoes, severe storms |
Air Quality | Varies, areas with poor | Generally moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/55Β°F | 85Β°F/64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F/45Β°F | 36Β°F/22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22" | 39" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" (in most areas) | 28" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from California to Ohio. Ohio gets 37% fewer sunshine days than California.
- Ohio has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to California.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in California, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Ohio.
- The average summer high temperature in Ohio is the same as in California.
- The average winter lows in Ohio are 23 degrees colder than they are in California.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Ohio. Ohio receives 17 more inches of rain compared to California.
Financial & Community Snapshot: California and Ohio
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,551 | $65,720 |
Cost of Living Index | 136.4 | 92.85 |
State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.8% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.76% | 1.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.82% | 7.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Finance, Education |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Significant | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Ohio tend to earn about 28% less than in California
- The COLI in Ohio is 32% lower than what you are used to living in California
- The state income tax in OH is 4.8% compared to 13.3% in CA
- The affluence in Ohio is moderate compared to high in California
- The poverty level is moderate in Ohio compared to moderate in California
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in California and low in Ohio
Political and Religious Climate in California vs. Ohio
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Progressive policies in urban areas | Mix of conservative and liberal policies depending on the area |
Religion | Multicultural and diverse religious practices | Christian majority with diverse religious practices in urban areas |
- California tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Ohio, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Ohio's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority with diverse religious practices in urban areas
- California's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as multicultural and diverse
Education Guide When Moving from California to Ohio
Comparison | California | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | UCLA UC Berkeley Stanford University | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Miami University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Point Vicente Elementary (Rancho Palos Verdes) Mill Valley (Mill Valley) | Granville Elementary (Granville) Ottawa Hills (Ottawa Hills) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Joaquin Miller Middle (San Jose) William Hopkins Jr. High (Fremont) | Bexley Middle (Bexley) |
Top 3 High Schools | Henry M. Gunn High (Palo Alto) Monta Vista High (Cupertino) | Ottawa Hills High (Ottawa Hills) Walnut Hills High (Cincinnati) |
Top 3 private high schools | Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) | Hawken School (Gates Mills) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Nueva School (Hillsborough) The Webb Schools (Claremont) | Laurel School (Shaker Heights) Western Reserve Academy (Hudson) |
Top 3 School Districts | San Marino Unified Palo Alto Unified | Ottawa Hills Local Schools Indian Hill Exempted Village School District |
How Much Do California to Ohio Movers Cost?
Moving 2,441 miles from California to Ohio will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,586 | 300 ft3 | $8.62 |
1 Bedroom | $3,857 | 450 ft3 | $8.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,391 | 750 ft3 | $8.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,318 | 1100 ft3 | $8.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,474 | 1600 ft3 | $8.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,068 | 1800 ft3 | $8.37 |
Top California to Ohio Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Ohio movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for California to Ohio