DC to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 311 mile interstate move from DC to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Pepperoni roll), real estate & housing (row houses, federal vs colonial, ranch), 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 Pepperoni roll & Country ham
- West Virginia housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in West Virginia is 58.36% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to West Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended DC to West Virginia movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to West Virginia
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Limited green space
- High taxes
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Abundant nature
- Lower taxes
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited transit options
- Fewer job markets
- Quieter social scene
- Diverse cultural scene
- Public transportation
- Employment opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from DC to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to West Virginia with less congestion
- Swap the limited green space of DC for abundant nature in West Virginia
- Get ready for lower taxes in West Virginia
Cons of moving from DC to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse cultural scene in DC to live with fewer cultural events in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transportation and have to settle for the con of limited transit options
- Time to bid farewell to employment opportunities and get used to fewer job markets in West Virginia
- Swap vibrant nightlife for a quieter social scene
DC vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Pepperoni roll |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce wings | Country ham |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo slice pizza | Hot dogs with sauce |
Most popular vegan food | Plant-based burgers | Morel mushrooms |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Pepperoni roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce wings and sumptuous Jumbo slice pizza, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Country ham and Hot dogs with sauce to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Plant-based burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Morel mushrooms of West Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Pepperoni Grill, Two Dragons, and Tudor's Biscuit World.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and West Virginia
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Row Houses, Federal | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, Rooftop decks | Mountain views, Large yards |
- The Row Houses and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and rooftop decks, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and large yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; West Virginia is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; West Virginia is less bike-friendly than DC.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than DC.
- West Virginia housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased 37% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in West Virginia is 58.36% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and West Virginia
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Landslides |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 71Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 30Β°F | 41Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40" | 45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4" | 33" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 19% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- West Virginia 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 floods and landslides in West Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 2 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 5 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and West Virginia
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 8.95% | 6.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.59% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Health Services | Energy, Tourism, Forestry |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Higher |
Homelessness | Moderate | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 46% less than those in DC
- The COLI in West Virginia is 32% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in WV is 6.50% compared to 8.95% in DC
- The affluence in West Virginia is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is higher in West Virginia compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in DC and lower in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. West Virginia
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies | Conservative policies |
Religion | Multicultural, diverse religious practices | Primarily Christian |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as multicultural and diverse religious practices
Education Guide When Moving from DC to West Virginia
Comparison | DC | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University Howard University | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Eaton Elementary Mann Elementary | North Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) C.W. Shipley Elementary (Harpers Ferry) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Alice Deal Junior High School | Winfield Middle School Bridgeport Middle School Suncrest Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | School Without Walls High School Benjamin Banneker High School McKinley Technology High School | George Washington High School Morgantown High School Bridgeport High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Georgetown Preparatory School St. Anselm's Abbey School Gonzaga College High School | The Linsly School Greenbrier Episcopal School Wheeling Country Day School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Maret School Georgetown Day School | Charleston Catholic High School Mercy Baptist Academy Parkersburg Catholic High School |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Kanawha County Schools |
How Much Do DC to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 311 miles from DC to West Virginia 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,379 | 300 ft3 | $4.60 |
1 Bedroom | $2,046 | 450 ft3 | $4.55 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,372 | 750 ft3 | $4.50 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,891 | 1100 ft3 | $4.45 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,034 | 1600 ft3 | $4.40 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,823 | 1800 ft3 | $4.35 |
Top DC to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.