Hawaii to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing expenses), food & health (like Poke vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (plantation, modern tropical vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Country Ham
- West Virginia housing costs are 81% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in West Virginia is 65.93% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to West Virginia movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
Hawaii to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to West Virginia
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Isolated location
- Busy tourist areas
- Vog (volcanic smog)
- Lower housing expenses
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Easier mainland travel
- Quieter lifestyle
- Cleaner air quality
- Limited coastline
- Cold winters
- Fewer cultural events
- More common wildlife
- Traditional southern fare
- Beautiful beaches
- Warm climate year-round
- Diverse cultures
- Unique flora and fauna
- Rich local cuisine
Pros of moving from Hawaii to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing expenses
- Look forward to moving away from the limited job market and moving to West Virginia with diverse employment opportunities
- Swap the isolated location of Hawaii for easier mainland travel in West Virginia
- Get ready for a quieter lifestyle in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Hawaii to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with limited coastline in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm climate year-round and have to settle for the con of cold winters
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cultures and get used to fewer cultural events in West Virginia
- Swap unique flora and fauna for more common wildlife
Hawaii vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Country Ham |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Hot Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Taro | Morel Mushrooms |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Shave Ice, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Country Ham and Hot Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Taro 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 Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Matsumoto Shave Ice. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Tudor's Biscuit World, Pies and Pints, and Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides for local cuisine experiences.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and West Virginia
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern Tropical | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Mountain view, Spacious land |
- The Plantation and Modern Tropical architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanai, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and spacious land.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as West Virginia is less walkable than Hawaii.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike since West Virginia is less bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- West Virginia housing costs are 81% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased by 37% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in West Virginia is 65.93% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and West Virginia
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Floods, Landslides |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 80°F / 60°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 41°F / 26°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7" | 45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 33" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 39% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- West Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential floods and landslides in West Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 5 degrees colder than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 37 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 18.7 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and West Virginia
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 1.4 - 11% | 3 - 6.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 6.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Construction | Manufacturing, Mining, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Significant | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 41% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in West Virginia will be 43% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in WV is 3 - 6.5% compared to 1.4 - 11% in HI
- The affluence in West Virginia is low compared to moderate affluence in Hawaii
- The poverty level is high in West Virginia compared to low poverty in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Hawaii and manageable in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratically inclined | Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Focus on environmental and native rights issues | Energy (especially coal) and employment policies are central |
Religion | Diverse, with Buddhism and Christianity being predominant | Primarily Christian, with strong Baptist presence |
- Hawaii tends to lean democratically inclined in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a strong Baptist presence
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with Buddhism and Christianity being predominant
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to West Virginia
Comparison | Hawaii | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) E.B. de Silva Elementary (Hilo) | North Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) Kenna Elementary (Charleston) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Mountaineer Middle School (Morgantown) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Moanalua High School (Honolulu) Kalani High School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Mercersburg Academy (Nearby in PA) St. Joseph Central Catholic High School (Huntington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Island Pacific Academy (Kapolei) La Pietra - Hawaii School for Girls (Honolulu) | Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) |
Top 3 School Districts | Honolulu District Central Oahu District Windward Oahu District | Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County School District Harrison County Schools |
Top Hawaii to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Country Roads Moving LLC
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to West Virginia