Colorado to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 1,671 mile interstate move from Colorado to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (mountain modern vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Smoked Brisket
- Virginia housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in Virginia is 9.69% more affordable than in Colorado
- Moving from Colorado to Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Colorado to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Colorado to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to Virginia
- High cost of living
- Dry climate
- Limited coastline
- Less historical sites
- Lower cost of living
- Mild, varied climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Rich in history
- Less snowy winters
- More humidity
- Less mountainous terrain
- Heavier traffic
- Ski resorts
- Outdoor lifestyle
- Breathtaking mountains
- Less traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Colorado to Virginia
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from the dry climate and moving to Virginia with a mild, varied climate
- Swap the limited coastline of Colorado for beautiful beaches in Virginia
- Get ready for a rich history in Virginia
Cons of moving from Colorado to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the ski resorts in Colorado to live with less snowy winters in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of an outdoor lifestyle and have to settle for the con of more humidity
- Time to bid farewell to the breathtaking mountains and get used to less mountainous terrain in Virginia
- Swap less traffic congestion for heavier traffic
Colorado vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burgers | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burritos | Crab Cakes |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | 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 Colorado to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burgers and sumptuous Breakfast Burritos, Virginia residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Crab Cakes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad 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 Colorado eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Frasca Food and Wine, and Opheliaβs Electric Soapbox. 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, Lemaire, and Mama Jβs Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and Virginia
Comparison | Colorado | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mountain Modern | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain Views | Historic Details |
- The Mountain Modern architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic details.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Virginia is more walkable than Colorado.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Virginia is less bike-friendly than Colorado.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Colorado.
- Virginia housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 40% increase in Colorado.
- Rent in Virginia is 9.69% more affordable than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and Virginia
Comparison | Colorado | 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 | Wildfires, Snowstorms | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85F/55F | 87F/67F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45F/18F | 48F/29F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15.6 | 42.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.3 | 14 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to Virginia. Virginia gets 16% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 2 degrees warmer than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees warmer in Virginia than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 27.1 more inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and Virginia
Comparison | Colorado | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 4.55% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.49% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 2.90% | 5.30% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Tourism, Agriculture | Defense, Agriculture, Technology |
Affluence | Prosperous | Thriving |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 4% less than in Colorado
- The COLI in Virginia will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Colorado
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 4.55% in CO
- The affluence in Virginia is thriving compared to prosperous in Colorado
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to moderate in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Colorado and manageable in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. Virginia
Comparison | Colorado | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Democratic | Mixed; recent years lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal urban centers; conservative rural areas | Liberal urban centers; conservative rural areas |
Religion | Diverse; Christianity dominant | Diverse; Christianity dominant |
- Colorado tends to lean mixed and leans Democratic in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and in recent years leans Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as diverse with Christianity as dominant
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with Christianity as dominant
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to Virginia
Comparison | Colorado | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bromwell Elementary - Denver, Steck Elementary - Denver, Slavens K-8 School - Denver | Arlington Traditional - Arlington, Spring Hill Elementary - McLean, Louise Archer Elementary - Vienna |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kruse Elementary β Parker, Kendrick Lakes Elementary - Lakewood, Parker Core Knowledge Charter School - Parker | Longfellow Middle School - Falls Church, Cooper Middle School - McLean, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (8-12) - Alexandria |
Top 3 High School Schools | Cherry Creek High School - Greenwood Village, Denver School of the Arts - Denver, Fairview High School - Boulder | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - Alexandria, McLean High School - McLean, Langley High School - McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy - Denver, The Kent Denver School - Englewood, St. Mary's Academy - Englewood | Thomas Jefferson School - Alexandria, The Madeira School - McLean, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School - Alexandria |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Denver Christian School - Denver, Colorado Academy - Denver, Vail Mountain School - Vail | The Potomac School - McLean, Flint Hill School - Oakton, The Langley School - McLean |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District, Boulder Valley School District, Douglas County School District | Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Colorado to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,671 miles from Colorado to Virginia will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,150 | 300 ft3 | $7.17 |
1 Bedroom | $3,202 | 450 ft3 | $7.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,300 | 750 ft3 | $7.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,718 | 1100 ft3 | $7.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,146 | 1600 ft3 | $6.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,449 | 1800 ft3 | $6.92 |
Top Colorado to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.