DC to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 720 mile interstate move from DC to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Coney Dog), real estate & housing (victorian, federal vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Coney Dog & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Michigan is 39.55% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended DC to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
DC to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Michigan
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Political climate
- Affordable housing
- Lighter traffic
- Diverse outdoor activities
- Less historical landmarks
- Lack of public transport
- Fewer museums
- Rich history & culture
- Abundant public transport
- National museums
Pros of moving from DC to Michigan
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Michigan with lighter traffic
- Swap the political climate of DC for diverse outdoor activities in Michigan
Cons of moving from DC to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history and culture in DC to live with fewer historical landmarks in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of abundant public transport and have to settle for the con of lack of public transport
- Time to bid farewell to national museums and get used to fewer museums in Michigan
DC vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Coney Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice Pizza | Coney Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Bao | Vegan Coney Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Coney Dog of Michigan. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Michigan residents know they have tasty Pasties and Coney Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Bao they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Coney Chili of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rosa's Thai Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like American Coney Island, Zingerman's Deli, and Slows Bar BQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Michigan
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Federal | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Metro, Historic Value | Lake Access, Spacious Yards |
- The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the metro and historic value, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Michigan is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Michigan is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Michigan has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Michigan housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Michigan is 39.55% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Michigan
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, floods | Snowstorms, tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 87°F / 71°F | 82°F / 62°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F / 29°F | 32°F / 18°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.8" | 30.7" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4" | 60.7" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Michigan. Michigan gets 16% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 5 degrees colder than DC.
- The average winter lows in Michigan are 11 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 10.1 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Michigan
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 6% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Tourism | Automotive, Education, Healthcare |
Affluence | Wealthy | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Visible | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 34% less than those in DC
- The COLI in Michigan will be 35% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 6% in DC
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to wealthy in DC
- The poverty level is high in Michigan compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in DC and low in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Michigan
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Moderately Democratic/Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal policies and governance | Mixed, varies by region |
Religion | Diverse, with no single dominant religion | Christianity predominant, but religious diversity present |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic and Republican
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity, with religious diversity present
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with no single dominant religion
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Michigan
Comparison | DC | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University University of Maryland | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary Eaton Elementary Janney Elementary | Bates Elementary Angell Elementary Plymouth Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School McKinley Middle School | Clague Middle School Tappan Middle School Scarlett Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls High School Banneker High School | International Academy Pioneer High School Skyline High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Georgetown Preparatory School St. Albans School Sidwell Friends School | Cranbrook Schools Detroit Country Day School Greenhills School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School | Roeper School Cranbrook Schools Detroit Country Day School |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Bloomfield Hills Schools East Grand Rapids Public Schools Forest Hills Public Schools |
How Much Do DC to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 720 miles from DC to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,611 | 300 ft3 | $5.37 |
1 Bedroom | $2,394 | 450 ft3 | $5.32 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,952 | 750 ft3 | $5.27 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,741 | 1100 ft3 | $5.22 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,270 | 1600 ft3 | $5.17 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,214 | 1800 ft3 | $5.12 |
Top DC to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.