Connecticut to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 2,856 mile interstate move from Connecticut to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Connecticut vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing options), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Connecticut), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and New Haven-style Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pho
- Washington housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Connecticut
- Rent in Washington is 1.13% more affordable than in Connecticut
- Moving from Connecticut to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Connecticut to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Connecticut to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Connecticut to Washington
- High cost of living
- Brutal winters
- Limited job market
- Affordable housing options
- Moderate climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Rainy weather
- Higher taxes
- Longer travel distances
- Four distinct seasons
- Rich history
- Proximity to NYC
Pros of moving from Connecticut to Washington
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing options
- Look forward to moving away from brutal winters and moving to Washington with a moderate climate
- Swap the limited job market of Connecticut for diverse job opportunities in Washington
Cons of moving from Connecticut to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from four distinct seasons in Connecticut to live with rainy weather in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle with the con of higher taxes
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to NYC and get used to longer travel distances in Washington
Connecticut vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Connecticut | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | New Haven-style Pizza | Pho |
Most popular street food item | Steamed Cheeseburger | Food truck tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Kale Salad | Quinoa Bowl |
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 Connecticut to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Connecticut for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Connecticut rave about their flavorful New Haven-style Pizza and sumptuous Steamed Cheeseburger, Washington residents know they have tasty Pho and food truck tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Bowl of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Connecticut eateries like Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Louis' Lunch. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and The Herbfarm.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Connecticut. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Connecticut. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Connecticut and Washington
Comparison | Connecticut | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, historic charm | Energy efficiency, smart home features |
- The Colonial architecture that Connecticut is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Connecticut's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and historic charm, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and smart home features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Connecticut.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Connecticut.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Connecticut.
- Washington housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Connecticut, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Connecticutβs $393,802.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 55% increase in Connecticut.
- Rent in Washington is 1.13% more affordable than in Connecticut.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Connecticut and Washington
Comparison | Connecticut | 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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/62Β°F | 79Β°F/57Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F/18Β°F | 47Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 38 (varies widely across state) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 37 | 16 (varies widely across state) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Connecticut to Washington. Washington gets 25% fewer sunshine days than Connecticut.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Connecticut.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in Connecticut, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- The average summer high temperature in Washington is 3 degrees colder than in Connecticut.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees warmer than they are in Connecticut.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Connecticut.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Connecticut and Washington
Comparison | Connecticut | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,429 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 122.1 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 3% - 6.99% | No state income tax |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.14% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.35% | 9.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Insurance, Real Estate | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 3% more than in Connecticut
- The COLI in Washington will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in Connecticut
- The state income tax in WA is no state income tax compared to 3% to 6.99% in CT
- The affluence in Washington is moderate compared to high in Connecticut
- The poverty level is high in Washington compared to moderate in Connecticut
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Connecticut and moderate in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Connecticut vs. Washington
Comparison | Connecticut | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Local policies often focus on education and healthcare | Emphasis on environmental policies and technological innovation |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a mix of other faiths | Less religiously affiliated, diverse range of faiths |
- Connecticut tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with a diverse range of faiths
- Connecticut's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Connecticut to Washington
Comparison | Connecticut | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Connecticut Yale University Quinnipiac University | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | International School at Dundee (Greenwich) North Mianus School (Greenwich) West School (New Canaan) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Eastern Middle School (Riverside) Bedford Middle School (Westport) Central Middle School (Greenwich) | International Community School (Kirkland) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Tyee Middle School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 High Schools | Amity Regional High School (Woodbridge) Conard High School (West Hartford) Staples High School (Westport) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Hopkins School (New Haven) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) Brunswick School (Greenwich) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Greenwich Country Day School (Greenwich) King School (Stamford) The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville) | The Bush School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) |
Top 3 School Districts | Westport School District New Canaan School District Greenwich School District | Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District Lake Washington School District |
How Much Do Connecticut to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,856 miles from Connecticut to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,822 | 300 ft3 | $9.41 |
1 Bedroom | $4,210 | 450 ft3 | $9.36 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,979 | 750 ft3 | $9.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,181 | 1100 ft3 | $9.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,729 | 1600 ft3 | $9.21 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,480 | 1800 ft3 | $9.16 |
Top Connecticut to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Connecticut to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Connecticut to Washington