DC to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,265 mile interstate move from DC to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (victorian and colonial vs prairie and 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 Chicken Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Juicy Lucy Burger
- Minnesota housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Minnesota is 30.55% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended DC to Minnesota movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Minnesota
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Limited natural scenery
- Dense population
- Humid summers
- Lower living expenses
- Smoother commutes
- Rich outdoor spaces
- More open space
- Cooler summers
- Fewer historical sites
- Less iconic landmarks
- Fewer restaurant choices
- Quieter nightlife
- Less political activity
- Rich history
- Iconic landmarks
- Diverse restaurants
- Vibrant nightlife
- Political epicenter
Pros of moving from DC to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Minnesota with smoother commutes
- Swap the limited natural scenery of DC for rich outdoor spaces in Minnesota
- Get ready for more open space in Minnesota
Cons of moving from DC to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in DC to live with fewer historical sites in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of iconic landmarks and have to settle for the con of less iconic landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to diverse restaurants and get used to fewer restaurant choices in Minnesota
- Swap vibrant nightlife for quieter nightlife
DC vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings | Juicy Lucy Burger |
Most popular street food item | Korean BBQ Tacos | Wild Rice Soup |
Most popular vegan food | Chickpea Salad Sandwich | Vegan Hotdish |
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings and sumptuous Korean BBQ Tacos, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Juicy Lucy Burgers and Wild Rice Soup to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chickpea Salad Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Hotdish of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Canal Park Brewery.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Minnesota
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian and Colonial | Prairie and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Metro, Historic Charm | Lakeside Views, Spacious Yards |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Craftsman architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside views and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Minnesota is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Minnesota is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Minnesota has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Minnesota housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Minnesota is 30.55% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Minnesota
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/71 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/29 | 24/7 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.74 | 30.21 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.5 | 54 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 2% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Minnesota has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in DC, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 6 degrees cooler than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 22 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 10.5 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Minnesota
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 6-8.95 | 5.35-9.85 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56 | 1.02 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00 | 7.40 |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Professional, Education | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 18% less than in DC
- The COLI in Minnesota will be 30% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in MN is 5.35-9.85 compared to 6-8.95 in DC
- The affluence in Minnesota is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in DC and less noticeable in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Minnesota
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Democratic-leaning with mixed rural and urban views |
Local Politics | Focus on federal government influence and local governance issues | Emphasis on education, healthcare, and environmental policies |
Religion | Pluralistic, with a significant Christian population | Diverse, with a strong Christian majority but increasing diversity |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning with mixed rural and urban views
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as diverse with a strong Christian majority but increasing diversity
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as pluralistic with a significant Christian population
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Minnesota
Comparison | DC | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland George Washington University Howard University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary Hyde-Addison Elementary Janney Elementary | Scenic Heights Elementary Deephaven Elementary Greenwood Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Eliot-Hine Middle School | Minnetonka Middle School East Wayzata Central Middle School Eden Prairie Central Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls High School Banneker High School | Edina High School Minnetonka High School Wayzata High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School National Cathedral School | Breck School The Blake School Saint Thomas Academy |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maret School St. Albans School Georgetown Preparatory School | Breck School The Blake School Minnehaha Academy |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Wayzata Public Schools Eden Prairie Schools Minnetonka Public Schools |
How Much Do DC to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,265 miles from DC to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,920 | 300 ft3 | $6.40 |
1 Bedroom | $2,857 | 450 ft3 | $6.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,724 | 750 ft3 | $6.30 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,874 | 1100 ft3 | $6.25 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,918 | 1600 ft3 | $6.20 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,068 | 1800 ft3 | $6.15 |
Top DC to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.