DC to Texas Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 1,555 mile interstate move from DC to Texas? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Texas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing prices), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Brisket BBQ), real estate & housing (federal and victorian vs ranch and colonial), 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 Brisket BBQ & Texas chili (no beans)
- Texas housing costs are 51% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Texas is 29.45% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Texas will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended DC to Texas movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
DC to Texas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Texas
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Limited parking
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Lower housing prices
- Less crowded roads
- Ample parking spaces
- Milder winters
- No state income tax
- Fewer historic sites
- Car-dependent
- Limited food options
- Hot summers
- Rich culture and history
- Public transportation
- Diverse cuisine
- Beautiful springtime
Pros of moving from DC to Texas
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing prices
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Texas with less crowded roads
- Swap the limited parking of DC for ample parking spaces in Texas
- Get ready for milder winters in Texas
Cons of moving from DC to Texas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich culture and history in DC to live with fewer historic sites in Texas
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transportation and have to settle for the con of being car-dependent
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cuisine and get used to limited food options in Texas
- Swap beautiful springtime for hot summers
DC vs. Texas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Brisket BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce wings | Texas chili (no beans) |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo slice pizza | Tacos al pastor |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable-forward dishes | Tex-Mex inspired vegan dishes |
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 Texas, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Brisket BBQ of Texas. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce wings and sumptuous Jumbo slice pizza, Texas residents know they have tasty Texas chili (no beans) and Tacos al pastor to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable-forward dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tex-Mex inspired vegan dishes of Texas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Jose AndrΓ©s Restaurants. After the boxes are unpacked in Texas, don't wait too long before making your way to Texas' acclaimed eateries like Franklin Barbecue, Snow's BBQ, and Torchy's Tacos.
When comparing lifestyles, Texas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Texas compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Texas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Texas
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal and Victorian | Ranch and Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Metro, historic charm | Spacious lots, outdoor living spaces |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Colonial architecture typical of Texas.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the metro and historic charm, Texas real estate listings often highlight features like spacious lots and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Texas is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Texas is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Texas has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Texas housing costs are 51% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $304,027 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Texas have increased by 45% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Texas is 29.45% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Texas
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies Widely |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/71 | 94/72 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/29 | 60/38 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39.74 | 21-50 (Varies by region) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 13.8 | 0-4 (Varies greatly by region) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Texas. Texas gets 15% more sunshine days than DC.
- Texas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in DC, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Texas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Texas is 5 degrees warmer than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Texas. Texas receives 18.7 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Texas
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $72,284 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 91.1 |
State Income Tax | 6.0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 1.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Healthcare | Oil & Gas, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Texas tend to earn about 28% less than in DC
- The COLI in Texas will be 35% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- Hooray, moving to TX means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Texas is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Texas compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in DC and moderate in Texas
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Texas
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Leans Republican, but with increasing Democratic areas |
Local Politics | High emphasis on federal government and international affairs | Strong state governance focus, with significant attention to local businesses and <a href="https://www.texaschamber.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">economies</a> |
Religion | Diverse, with no single denomination dominating | Primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population (Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops) |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Texas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, but with increasing Democratic areas
- Texas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Catholic population (Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops)
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with no single denomination dominating
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Texas
Comparison | DC | Texas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University University of Maryland | University of Texas at Austin Texas A&M University University of Houston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary (Washington) Janney Elementary (Washington) Eaton Elementary (Washington) | West University Elementary (Houston) Canyon Creek Elementary (Austin) Caruthers Elementary (San Antonio) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) McKinley Middle School (Washington) | Coppell Middle School East (Coppell) Hudson Bend Middle School (Austin) Fort Settlement Middle School (Sugar Land) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wilson High School (Washington) School Without Walls High School (Washington) Banneker High School (Washington) | Liberal Arts and Science Academy (Austin) School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas) School of Science and Engineering (Dallas) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) St. Albans School (Washington) Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda) | St. Mark's School of Texas (Dallas) The Kinkaid School (Houston) Greenhill School (Addison) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Georgetown Day School (Washington) Maret School (Washington) Sidwell Friends School (Washington) | The Hockaday School (Dallas) St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Austin) The John Cooper School (The Woodlands) |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Eanes Independent School District (Austin) Carroll Independent School District (Southlake) Coppell Independent School District (Coppell) |
How Much Do DC to Texas Movers Cost?
Moving 1,555 miles from DC to Texas 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: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,084 | 300 ft3 | $6.95 |
1 Bedroom | $3,104 | 450 ft3 | $6.90 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,135 | 750 ft3 | $6.85 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,477 | 1100 ft3 | $6.80 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,795 | 1600 ft3 | $6.75 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,054 | 1800 ft3 | $6.70 |
Top DC to Texas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Texas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Best moving company overall for DC to Texas
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