Kansas to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,236 mile interstate move from Kansas to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winters vs mild winters), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Ham), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Ham & Seafood (especially crab)
- Virginia housing costs are 72% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Virginia is 66.82% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Kansas to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Virginia
- Severe winters
- Limited job options
- Flat landscapes
- High property taxes
- Fewer cultural events
- Mild winters
- Diverse job market
- Scenic mountains
- Lower property taxes
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Higher cost of living
- Faster-paced life
- Heavy traffic
- Limited open spaces
- More bustling areas
- Lower cost of living
- Friendly community
- Less traffic congestion
- Spacious landscapes
- Quieter lifestyle
Pros of moving from Kansas to Virginia
- Say goodbye to severe winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited job options and moving to Virginia with a diverse job market
- Swap the flat landscapes of Kansas for scenic mountains in Virginia
- Get ready for lower property taxes in Virginia
Cons of moving from Kansas to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Kansas to live with a higher cost of living in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a friendly community and have to settle with the con of a faster-paced life
- Time to bid farewell to less traffic congestion and get used to heavy traffic in Virginia
- Swap spacious landscapes for limited open spaces
Kansas vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Seafood (especially crab) |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwich | Oyster Po'boy |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | 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 Kansas to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous BBQ Sandwich, Virginia residents know they have tasty Seafood (especially crab) and Oyster Po'boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit BBQ 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 Kansas eateries like Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que, The Anchor, and Q39. 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, LβAuberge Chez FranΓ§ois, and Mama J's Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia, compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, basements | Historical landmarks, proximity to Washington D.C. |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and basements, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historical landmarks and proximity to Washington D.C.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Virginia housing costs are 72% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Virginia is 66.82% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | 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, Severe Storms | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 87Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 48Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18" | 14" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to Virginia. Virginia gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 3 degrees colder than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer in Virginia than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia, as it receives 14 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 5.7 | 5.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4 | 0.8 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7 | 5.3 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aviation | Government, Military, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 25% more than in Kansas
- The COLI in Virginia will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75 compared to 5.7 in KS
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate in Kansas
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to low in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Conservative | Moderately Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in rural areas | Diverse; Democratic in urban, Republican in rural |
Religion | Christianity predominant, specifically Protestant | Christianity major, with a diverse religious landscape |
- Kansas tends to lean traditionally Conservative in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Liberal
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, with a diverse religious landscape
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian, specifically Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Roosevelt Elementary (Manhattan) Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) Meadowbrook Elementary (Prairie Village) | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Nottingham Elementary (Arlington) Larchmont Elementary (Norfolk) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lakewood Middle (Overland Park) Pleasant Ridge Middle (Overland Park) Trailridge Middle (Shawnee) | Longfellow Middle (Falls Church) Frost Middle (Fairfax) Henley Middle (Charlottesville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Lawrence High (Lawrence) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High (McLean) Langley High (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita) | The Potomac School (McLean) St. Christopher's School (Richmond) The Madeira School (McLean) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Kansas City Christian School (Prairie Village) Topeka Collegiate School (Topeka) | Flint Hill School (Oakton) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) The Collegiate School (Richmond) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe Public Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Kansas to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,236 miles from Kansas to Virginia will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,903 | 300 ft3 | $6.34 |
1 Bedroom | $2,832 | 450 ft3 | $6.29 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,683 | 750 ft3 | $6.24 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,813 | 1100 ft3 | $6.19 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,830 | 1600 ft3 | $6.14 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,969 | 1800 ft3 | $6.09 |
Top Kansas to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.