DC to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 529 mile interstate move from DC to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing costs), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Hot Brown), real estate & housing (row houses, victorian vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Brown & Fried Chicken
- Kentucky housing costs are 67% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Kentucky is 45.44% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended DC to Kentucky movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Kentucky
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Political tension
- Harsh winters
- Lower housing costs
- Less crowded roads
- Friendly communities
- Mild winters
- Fewer museums
- Limited cuisine variety
- Limited transport options
- Cultural attractions
- Diverse dining options
- Public transportation
Pros of moving from DC to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing costs
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Kentucky with less crowded roads
- Swap the political tension of DC for friendly communities in Kentucky
- Get ready for mild winters in Kentucky
Cons of moving from DC to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural attractions in DC to live with fewer museums in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse dining options and have to settle for the con of limited cuisine variety
- Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to limited transport options in Kentucky
DC vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Hot Brown |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice Pizza | Barbecue Mutton |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Curry | Vegan Hot Brown |
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 DC to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Hot Brown of Kentucky. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce with Chicken Wings and sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Barbecue Mutton to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Curry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Hot Brown of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Maketto. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel (Home of the Hot Brown), Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, and Carson's Food & Drink.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Kentucky
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Row houses, Victorian | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, historic charm | Large yards, scenic views |
- The Row houses and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the metro and historic charm, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and scenic views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kentucky is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Kentucky housing costs are 67% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Kentucky is 45.44% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Kentucky
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88/71 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/29 | 44/27 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.78 | 50.1 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 3% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 1 degree colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 9.3 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Kentucky
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.5 | 4.5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56 | 0.87 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Federal Government, Education, Technology | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Trade |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 41% less than in DC
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 37% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in KY is 4.5% compared to 6.5% in DC
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is high in Kentucky compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in DC and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Kentucky
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies, high engagement | Conservative values, local governance focus |
Religion | Diverse, with no single dominant religion | Primarily Christian, with a strong Baptist presence |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a strong Baptist presence
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with no single dominant religion
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Kentucky
Comparison | DC | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University Howard University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Basis DC Washington Yu Ying PCS Capital City PCS - Lower School | Atherton High School Louisville; Beechwood Independent Fort Mitchell; Highlands High School Fort Thomas |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Basis DC Hardy Middle School Deal Middle School | DuPont Manual High Louisville; Murray High Murray; Glasgow High School Glasgow |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Banneker High School Without Walls High School McKinley Technology High School | DuPont Manual High Louisville; Beechwood High School Fort Mitchell; Highlands High School Fort Thomas |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Preparatory School National Cathedral School | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville; Lexington Catholic High Lexington; Trinity High School Louisville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School | The Lexington School Lexington; Kentucky Country Day School Louisville; Sayre School Lexington |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Boone County Schools |
How Much Do DC to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 529 miles from DC to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,502 | 300 ft3 | $5.01 |
1 Bedroom | $2,231 | 450 ft3 | $4.96 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,681 | 750 ft3 | $4.91 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,344 | 1100 ft3 | $4.86 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,693 | 1600 ft3 | $4.81 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,564 | 1800 ft3 | $4.76 |
Top DC to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.