DC to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,569 mile interstate move from DC to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dense traffic vs less congestion), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Fleischkuekle), real estate & housing (victorian, colonial vs ranch, split-level), 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 wings, but get your taste buds ready for Fleischkuekle & Bison burgers
- North Dakota housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in North Dakota is 57.46% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended DC to North Dakota movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to North Dakota
- Dense traffic
- High cost of living
- Urban noise
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Limited green space
- Less congestion
- Affordable housing
- Peaceful environment
- Slower pace
- Vast natural landscapes
- Less diverse demographics
- Fewer restaurants
- Fewer attractions
- Quieter evenings
- Limited transit options
- Cultural diversity
- Extensive dining options
- Historical landmarks
- Active nightlife
- Public transportation accessibility
Pros of moving from DC to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to dense traffic and hello to less congestion
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to North Dakota with affordable housing
- Swap the urban noise of DC for a peaceful environment in North Dakota
- Get ready for a slower pace in North Dakota
Cons of moving from DC to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with less diverse demographics in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of extensive dining options and have to settle for the con of fewer restaurants
- Time to bid farewell to historical landmarks and get used to fewer attractions in North Dakota
- Swap active nightlife for quieter evenings
DC vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Fleischkuekle |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce with wings | Bison burgers |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo slice pizza | Knoephla soup |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan chili | Lentil stew |
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 North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Fleischkuekle of North Dakota. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce with wings and sumptuous Jumbo slice pizza, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison burgers and Knoephla soup to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil stew of North Dakota. 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 North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, The Pit Barbecue, and Badger's Business.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and North Dakota
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Colonial | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Nearby Metro, Historic charm | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference nearby metro stations and historic charm, North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Dakota is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; North Dakota is less bike-friendly than DC.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than DC.
- North Dakota housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased by 18% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in North Dakota is 57.46% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and North Dakota
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 87°F / 71°F | 82°F / 57°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F / 28°F | 23°F / 2°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.8" | 17.8" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.5" | 51.2" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 1% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- North Dakota 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 blizzards and floods in North Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 5 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows in North Dakota are 26 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 23.0 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and North Dakota
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 8.5% | 2.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 1.05% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Finance, Education | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 29% less than those in DC
- The COLI in North Dakota will be 32% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in ND is 2.9% compared to 8.5% in DC
- The affluence in North Dakota is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in North Dakota compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in DC and minimal in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. North Dakota
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Largely Republican |
Local Politics | Focus on urban policy, social justice | Emphasis on rural issues, energy development |
Religion | Mixed, with no single majority | Primarily Christian, with a significant Lutheran population |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Lutheran population
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with no single majority
Education Guide When Moving from DC to North Dakota
Comparison | DC | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University American University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary (Washington) Janney Elementary (Washington) Lafayette Elementary (Washington) | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Centennial Elementary (Fargo) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) Alice Deal Junior High School (Washington) | Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Cheney Middle School (West Fargo) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) |
Top 3 High Schools | Wilson High School (Washington) School Without Walls (Washington) Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (Washington) | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Red River High School (Grand Forks) |
Top 3 private high schools | Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda) Sidwell Friends School (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) | Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Trinity Christian School (Williston) |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington) | Fargo Public Schools (Fargo) Bismarck Public Schools (Bismarck) West Fargo Public Schools (West Fargo) |
How Much Do DC to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,569 miles from DC to North Dakota 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,092 | 300 ft3 | $6.97 |
1 Bedroom | $3,115 | 450 ft3 | $6.92 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,155 | 750 ft3 | $6.87 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,506 | 1100 ft3 | $6.82 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,837 | 1600 ft3 | $6.77 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,102 | 1800 ft3 | $6.72 |
Top DC to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.