Delaware to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,770 mile interstate move from Delaware to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Delaware vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher property taxes vs no state income tax), food & health (like Scrapple vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Scrapple and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pho
- Washington housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Delaware
- Rent in Washington is 6.52% more expensive than in Delaware
- Moving from Delaware to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Delaware to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Delaware to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Delaware to Washington
- Higher property taxes
- Small state size
- Limited outdoor activities
- Fewer cultural events
- No state income tax
- Abundant natural spaces
- Diverse outdoor adventures
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Higher living expenses
- Rainy climate
- No ocean coastline
- Hustle and bustle
- Low cost of living
- Mild winters
- Beach access
- Quiet lifestyle
Pros of moving from Delaware to Washington
- Say goodbye to higher property taxes and hello to no state income tax
- Look forward to moving away from small state size and moving to Washington with abundant natural spaces
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Delaware for diverse outdoor adventures in Washington
- Get ready for a vibrant cultural scene in Washington
Cons of moving from Delaware to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Delaware to live with higher living expenses in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of a rainy climate
- Time to bid farewell to beach access and get used to no ocean coastline in Washington
- Swap a quiet lifestyle for hustle and bustle
Delaware vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Scrapple | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Pho |
Most popular street food item | Italian Ice | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Sandwich | Quinoa Salad |
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 Delaware to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Scrapple of Delaware for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Delaware rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Italian Ice, Washington residents know they have tasty Pho and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Delaware eateries like Deer Park Tavern, Harry's Savoy Grill, and Woodside Farm Creamery. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herbfarm, and Mamnoon.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Delaware. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Delaware. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Delaware and Washington
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Beach proximity | Eco-friendly features, Mountain views |
- The Colonial architecture that Delaware is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Delaware's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and beach proximity, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly designs and mountain views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Delaware.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Delaware.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Delaware.
- Washington housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Delaware, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Delawareβs $385,745.
- Over the past 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49%, compared to a 42% increase in Delaware.
- Rent in Washington is 6.52% more expensive than in Delaware.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Delaware and Washington
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45/28 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20 | 52 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Delaware to Washington. Washington gets 24% fewer sunshine days than Delaware.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Delaware.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Delaware, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 10 degrees colder than Delaware.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 8 degrees warmer than they are in Delaware.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to Delaware.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Delaware and Washington
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,174 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.45 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 2.2% - 6.6% | No State Income Tax |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Agriculture, Chemical Manufacturing | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 11% more than those in Delaware
- The COLI in Washington is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Delaware
- The state income tax in WA is no state income tax compared to 2.2% - 6.6% in DE
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Delaware
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to low in Delaware
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Delaware and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Delaware vs. Washington
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Centrist with a liberal lean | Liberal, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christian predominant, with diverse faith communities | Less religious overall, with significant non-religious population |
- Delaware tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religious overall with a significant non-religious population
- Delaware's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian predominant with diverse faith communities
Education Guide When Moving from Delaware to Washington
Comparison | Delaware | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Delaware Wilmington University Delaware State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School Odyssey Charter School | Cascade K-8 Community School (Shoreline) Challenge Elementary (Everett) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Cab Calloway School of the Arts Conrad Schools of Science Newark Charter Jr./Sr. High School | International Community School (Kirkland) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) Lakeside Middle School (Seattle) |
Top 3 High Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School Sussex Academy | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Bush School (Seattle) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Tower Hill School (Wilmington) St. Andrew's School (Middletown) Sanford School (Hockessin) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Academy (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Tower Hill School Sanford School St. Andrew's School | The Bush School Seattle Academy Lakeside School |
Top 3 School Districts | Cape Henlopen School District Appoquinimink School District Caesar Rodney School District | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Delaware to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,770 miles from Delaware to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,773 | 300 ft3 | $9.24 |
1 Bedroom | $4,137 | 450 ft3 | $9.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,857 | 750 ft3 | $9.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,002 | 1100 ft3 | $9.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,469 | 1600 ft3 | $9.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,187 | 1800 ft3 | $8.99 |
Top Delaware to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Delaware to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Delaware to Washington