DC to Ohio Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 442 mile interstate move from DC to Ohio? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Ohio across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Buckeye Candy), real estate & housing (victorian & colonial 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 on Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Buckeye Candy & Cincinnati Chili
- Ohio housing costs are 64% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Ohio is 39.67% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Ohio will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended DC to Ohio movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
DC to Ohio Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Ohio
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Intense political atmosphere
- Winter snowstorms
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded roads
- Quieter political environment
- Milder winters
- Fewer cultural attractions
- Less historical significance
- Quieter evening options
- Limited public transport
- World-class museums
- Rich historical landmarks
- Vibrant nightlife
- Expansive metro system
Pros of moving from DC to Ohio
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Ohio with less crowded roads
- Swap the intense political atmosphere of DC for a quieter political environment in Ohio
- Get ready for milder winters in Ohio
Cons of moving from DC to Ohio
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from world-class museums in DC to live with fewer cultural attractions in Ohio
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich historical landmarks and have to settle for the con of less historical significance
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to quieter evening options in Ohio
- Swap an expansive metro system for limited public transport
DC vs. Ohio: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Buckeye Candy |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce on Chicken | Cincinnati Chili |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks Offering Various Cuisines | Polish Boy Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Plant-based Bowls | Vegan Pierogi |
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 Ohio, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Buckeye Candy of Ohio. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce on Chicken and sumptuous Food Trucks Offering Various Cuisines, Ohio residents know they have tasty Cincinnati Chili and Polish Boy Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Plant-based Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pierogi of Ohio. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, minibar by JosΓ© AndrΓ©s, and Fiola. After the boxes are unpacked in Ohio, don't wait too long before making your way to Ohio's acclaimed eateries like Skyline Chili, Sokolowski's University Inn, and The Refectory Restaurant and Wine Shop.
When comparing lifestyles, Ohio shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Ohio compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Ohio.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Ohio
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian & Colonial | Colonial & Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Metro access | Spacious yards, Proximity to parks |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Ohio.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and metro access, Ohio real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and proximity to parks.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Ohio is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Ohio is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Ohio has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Ohio housing costs are 64% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $223,135 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Ohio have increased by 49% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Ohio is 39.67% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Ohio
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
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 | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/71 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/29 | 36/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40 | 39 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 28 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Ohio. Ohio gets 13% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Ohio 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 tornadoes and floods in Ohio.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Ohio is 6 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Ohio. Ohio receives 1 inch less of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Ohio
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $65,720 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 92.85 |
State Income Tax | 8.5% | 4.8% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 1.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Finance, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Ohio tend to earn about 35% less than in DC
- The COLI in Ohio is 34% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in OH is 4.8% compared to 8.5% in DC
- The affluence in Ohio is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Ohio compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in DC and low in Ohio
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Ohio
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Mix of Democratic and Republican |
Local Politics | Urban governance, focused on federal government proximity | Diverse, with urban areas leaning Democratic and rural areas more Republican |
Religion | Variety of religions, with no single dominance | Christianity is predominant, with a mix of other religions |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Ohio, on the other hand, is often described as a mix of Democratic and Republican
- Ohio's religious environment can be described as Christianity being predominant, with a mix of other religions
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a variety of religions, with no single dominance
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Ohio
Comparison | DC | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University Howard University | The Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Ohio University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Mann Elementary Eaton Elementary | Indian Hill Elementary Terrace Park Elementary Wyoming Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School McKinley Middle School | Mason Middle Sycamore Junior High Hudson Middle |
Top 3 High Schools | School Without Walls High School Benjamin Banneker High School McKinley Technology High School | Walnut Hills High School Bexley High School Solon High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School St. Albans School Georgetown Day School | Hawken School University School The Seven Hills School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Georgetown Day School Sidwell Friends School The Field School | The Columbus Academy Western Reserve Academy Hawken School |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Solon City School District Ottawa Hills Local School District |
How Much Do DC to Ohio Movers Cost?
Moving 442 miles from DC to Ohio will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,453 | 300 ft3 | $4.84 |
1 Bedroom | $2,157 | 450 ft3 | $4.79 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,558 | 750 ft3 | $4.74 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,163 | 1100 ft3 | $4.69 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,430 | 1600 ft3 | $4.64 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,268 | 1800 ft3 | $4.59 |
Top DC to Ohio Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Ohio movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for DC to Ohio