Idaho to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 2,377 mile interstate move from Idaho to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Idaho vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Idaho Potatoes vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Idaho Potatoes and Trout, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Ham Biscuits
- Virginia housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in Idaho
- Rent in Virginia is 13.30% more expensive than in Idaho
- Moving from Idaho to Virginia will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Idaho to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Idaho to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Idaho to Virginia
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Remote location
- Less cultural diversity
- Mild climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Close to major cities
- Cultural richness
- Higher living expenses
- Urban sprawl
- Busy environments
- Potential anonymity
- Low cost of living
- Abundant nature
- Peaceful lifestyle
- Community feel
Pros of moving from Idaho to Virginia
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Virginia with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the remote location of Idaho for being close to major cities in Virginia
- Get ready for cultural richness in Virginia
Cons of moving from Idaho to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Idaho to live with higher living expenses in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of abundant nature and have to settle for the con of urban sprawl
- Time to bid farewell to a peaceful lifestyle and get used to busy environments in Virginia
- Swap the community feel for potential anonymity
Idaho vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Idaho Potatoes | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Trout | Ham Biscuits |
Most popular street food item | Finger Steaks | Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Chili | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Idaho to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Idaho Potatoes of Idaho for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Idaho rave about their flavorful Trout and sumptuous Finger Steaks, Virginia residents know they have tasty Ham Biscuits and Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Lentil Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Idaho eateries like The Ancient Shrine, The Boise Tea Room, and The Cooper's Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Virginia Diner, The Shack, and Taste of Suffolk.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Idaho. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Idaho. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Idaho and Virginia
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious lots, Mountain views | Historic homes, Proximity to DC |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Idaho is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Idaho's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious lots and mountain views, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and proximity to DC.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Virginia is more walkable than Idaho.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Virginia is more bike-friendly than Idaho.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Idaho.
- Virginia housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in Idaho, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Idaho’s $451,298.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 69% increase in Idaho.
- Rent in Virginia is 13.30% more expensive than in Idaho.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Idaho and Virginia
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Wildfires, Flooding | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 50°F | 87°F / 67°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 34°F / 16°F | 48°F / 29°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 18-40 | 40-50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 19-300 | 10-20 |
- Virginia gets an equal number of sunshine days as Idaho.
- Virginia has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Idaho.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and flooding in Idaho but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 2 degrees warmer than in Idaho.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Idaho.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia as Virginia receives 22 more inches of rain compared to Idaho.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Idaho and Virginia
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,785 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.5 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.75% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Technology, Tourism | Government, Military, Technology |
Affluence | Growing | Diverse |
Poverty | Minimal | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 18% more than in Idaho
- The COLI in Virginia will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Idaho
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 6.5% in ID
- The affluence in Virginia is diverse compared to growing in Idaho
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to minimal in Idaho
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Idaho and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Idaho vs. Virginia
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative leaning | Swing state, recently leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | Rural and agricultural interests prominent | Diverse; urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas remain conservative |
Religion | Majority Christian, with a significant Latter-day Saints community | Majority Christian, with a more diverse religious landscape |
- Idaho tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, recently leaning Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as majority Christian with a more diverse religious landscape
- Idaho's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Christian with a significant Latter-day Saints community
Education Guide When Moving from Idaho to Virginia
Comparison | Idaho | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Longfellow Elementary (Boise) Endeavor Elementary (Meridian) White Pine Elementary (Boise) | Westbriar Elementary (Vienna) Greenbriar West (Fairfax) Nottingham Elementary (Arlington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Junior High (Boise) Lake Hazel Middle School (Boise) Victory Middle School (Meridian) | Longfellow Middle (Falls Church) Frost Middle (Fairfax) Henley Middle (Charlottesville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Boise High School (Boise) Idaho Fine Arts Academy (Eagle) Coeur d'Alene High School (Coeur d'Alene) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Boise Christian School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) | Thomas Jefferson School (Alexandria) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Sage School (Hailey) Renaissance High School (Meridian) Riverstone International School (Boise) | The Potomac School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) Madeira School (McLean) |
Top 3 School Districts | Boise School District Meridian Joint District Coeur d'Alene School District | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Idaho to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 2,377 miles from Idaho to Virginia will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,550 | 300 ft3 | $8.50 |
1 Bedroom | $3,803 | 450 ft3 | $8.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,300 | 750 ft3 | $8.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,185 | 1100 ft3 | $8.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,280 | 1600 ft3 | $8.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,850 | 1800 ft3 | $8.25 |
Top Idaho to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Idaho to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.