DC to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 393 mile interstate move from DC to Rhode Island? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Rhode Island across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like heavy traffic vs less congestion), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Clam Cakes), real estate & housing (federal and victorian vs colonial and cottage), 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 Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Cakes & Stuffies (Stuffed Clams)
- Rhode Island housing costs are 27% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Rhode Island is 13.25% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Rhode Island will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,500
- Our top recommended DC to Rhode Island movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Rhode Island
- Heavy traffic
- High cost of living
- Summer humidity
- Political hubbub
- Less congestion
- Affordable housing
- Milder summers
- Peaceful environment
- Smaller cultural scene
- Fewer attractions
- Limited opportunities
- Fewer services
- Diverse culture
- Renowned museums
- Robust job market
- Access to amenities
Pros of moving from DC to Rhode Island
- Say goodbye to heavy traffic and hello to less congestion
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Rhode Island with affordable housing
- Swap the summer humidity of DC for milder summers in Rhode Island
- Get ready for a peaceful environment in Rhode Island
Cons of moving from DC to Rhode Island
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse culture in DC to live with a smaller cultural scene in Rhode Island
- You'll lose out on the pro of renowned museums and have to settle with the con of fewer attractions
- Time to bid farewell to a robust job market and get used to limited opportunities in Rhode Island
- Swap access to amenities for fewer services
DC vs. Rhode Island: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Clam Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce Wings | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice Pizza | Hot Wieners |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Chili | Seaweed Salad |
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 Rhode Island, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Clam Cakes of Rhode Island. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Wings and sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Rhode Island residents know they have tasty Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and Hot Wieners 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 Seaweed Salad of Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island, don't wait too long before making your way to Rhode Island's acclaimed eateries like Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House, Al Forno Restaurant, and Olneyville New York System.
When comparing lifestyles, Rhode Island shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Rhode Island, compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Rhode Island.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Rhode Island
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal and Victorian | Colonial and Cottage |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, historic charm | Waterfront access, quiet neighborhoods |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of Rhode Island.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro stations and historic charm, Rhode Island real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront access and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Rhode Island is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Rhode Island is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Rhode Island has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Rhode Island housing costs are 27% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $451,868 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Rhode Island have increased by 55% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Rhode Island is 13.25% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Rhode Island
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
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 | Thunderstorms, occasional hurricanes | Storms, rare hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 89/71 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47/29 | 40/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.8 | 47.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.5 | 33.8 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Rhode Island. Rhode Island gets 0% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- Rhode Island has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible thunderstorms and occasional hurricanes in DC, but be on the lookout for potential storms and rare hurricanes in Rhode Island.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Rhode Island is 6 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Rhode Island. Rhode Island receives 6.4 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Rhode Island
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $81,854 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 123.3 |
State Income Tax | 8.5% | 5.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 7.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Tourism | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Pressing | Notable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Rhode Island tend to earn about 19% less than those in DC
- The COLI in Rhode Island will be 12% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in RI is 5.99% compared to 8.5% in DC
- The affluence in Rhode Island is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Rhode Island compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is pressing in DC and notable in Rhode Island
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Rhode Island
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Strongly Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Focused on federal government and international diplomacy | Concentrated on maritime, education, and healthcare sectors |
Religion | Varied, with a notable Catholic presence | Predominantly Catholic |
- DC tends to lean strongly Democratic in its political climate
- Rhode Island, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Rhode Island's religious environment can be described as predominantly Catholic
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied, with a notable Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Rhode Island
Comparison | DC | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland George Washington University Howard University | Brown University University of Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Eaton Elementary Mann Elementary | Lincoln School (Providence) Moses Brown School (Providence) Wheeler School (Providence) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Alice Deal Middle School | Gordon School (East Providence) St. Michael's Country Day School (Newport) Wheeler School (Providence) |
Top 3 High Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls High School Banneker High School | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High School (East Greenwich) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Preparatory School National Cathedral School | Moses Brown School St. George's School (Middletown) Lincoln School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School | Moses Brown School St. George's School Wheeler School |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Newport Public Schools |
How Much Do DC to Rhode Island Movers Cost?
Moving 393 miles from DC to Rhode Island will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- 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 | $1,211 | 300 ft3 | $4.04 |
1 Bedroom | $1,798 | 450 ft3 | $4.00 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,965 | 750 ft3 | $3.95 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,302 | 1100 ft3 | $3.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,189 | 1600 ft3 | $3.87 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,886 | 1800 ft3 | $3.83 |
Top DC to Rhode Island Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Rhode Island movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.