Indiana to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 570 mile interstate move from Indiana to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (midwestern traditional vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & BBQ Pulled Pork
- Virginia housing costs are 63% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Virginia is 35.64% more expensive than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Indiana to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Indiana to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Virginia
- Harsh winters
- Fewer tech jobs
- Less coastal access
- Lack of mountain views
- Limited wine regions
- Milder winters
- Thriving tech sector
- Close to beaches
- Scenic mountain landscapes
- Rich wine culture
- Higher expenses
- Adaptation required
- More congestion
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- Hilly landscapes
- Lower cost of living
- Familiar community
- Less traffic
- Midwest hospitality
- Flat terrains
Pros of moving from Indiana to Virginia
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from fewer tech jobs and moving to Virginia with a thriving tech sector
- Swap the less coastal access of Indiana for being close to beaches in Virginia
- Get ready for scenic mountain landscapes in Virginia
Cons of moving from Indiana to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Indiana to live with higher expenses in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a familiar community and have to settle for the con of adaptation required
- Time to bid farewell to less traffic and get used to more congestion in Virginia
- Swap Midwest hospitality for a faster-paced lifestyle
Indiana vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | BBQ Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Elephant Ears | Oysters |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Tacos | Avocado Toast |
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 Indiana to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Elephant Ears, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ Pulled Pork and Oysters to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Tacos they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and The Eagle. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, L'Auberge Chez FranΓ§ois, and Mama J's Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Virginia
Comparison | Indiana | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Midwestern Traditional | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, basements | Hardwood floors, granite countertops |
- The Midwestern Traditional architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and basements, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and granite countertops.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Virginia housing costs are 63% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Virginia is 35.64% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Virginia
Comparison | Indiana | 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 | Tornadoes, floods | Hurricanes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/20 | 48/29 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 25 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Virginia. Virginia gets 10% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 2 degrees warmer than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Virginia
Comparison | Indiana | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.00% | 5.30% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Government, High Tech, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Moderate | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 29% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Virginia will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in Virginia is higher compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is lower in Virginia compared to moderate in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Indiana and lower in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Virginia
Comparison | Indiana | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Swing state, recent lean towards Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas | Liberal in urban areas, notably Northern Virginia |
Religion | Protestant majority, significant Catholic community | Diverse, Protestant majority with growing non-Christian faith communities |
- Indiana tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a recent lean towards Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a Protestant majority and growing non-Christian faith communities
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority with a significant Catholic community
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Virginia
Comparison | Indiana | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University University of Notre Dame | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School Evansville; Park Tudor Indianapolis; Carmel Elementary Carmel | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; Basis Independent McLean McLean; Nuckols Farm Elementary Henrico |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School West Lafayette; Sidener Academy for High Ability Students Indianapolis; Brown County Junior High Nashville | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Cooper Middle School McLean; George H. Moody Middle School Henrico |
Top 3 High Schools | Signature School Evansville; Carmel High School Carmel; Fishers High School Fishers | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; Langley High School McLean; McLean High School McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | Culver Academies Culver; Park Tudor School Indianapolis; Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Indianapolis | Thomas Jefferson School Alexandria; The Potomac School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Park Tudor School Indianapolis; Culver Academies Culver; University High School of Indiana Carmel | The Potomac School McLean; Norfolk Academy Norfolk; Flint Hill School Oakton |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools Hamilton Southeastern Schools Zionsville Community Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Indiana to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 570 miles from Indiana to Virginia will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,526 | 300 ft3 | $5.09 |
1 Bedroom | $2,266 | 450 ft3 | $5.04 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,739 | 750 ft3 | $4.99 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,429 | 1100 ft3 | $4.94 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,817 | 1600 ft3 | $4.89 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,704 | 1800 ft3 | $4.84 |
Top Indiana to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.