Kansas to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,073 mile interstate move from Kansas to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme summer heat vs milder summer temperatures), food & health (like BBQ Brisket vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (ranch, bungalow vs cottage, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Brisket and Smoked Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Venison
- West Virginia housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in West Virginia is 8.94% more affordable than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to West Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Kansas to West Virginia movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
Top Kansas to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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

American Movers

College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving
Kansas to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to West Virginia
- Extreme summer heat
- Flat terrain
- Limited outdoor activities
- Tornado risks
- Milder summer temperatures
- Scenic mountain views
- Abundant outdoor adventures
- Less tornado prone
- Higher taxes
- Limited job market
- More remote
- Rugged terrain
- Lower cost of living
- Less crowded
- Central location
- Plentiful farmland
Pros of moving from Kansas to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to extreme summer heat and hello to milder summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from flat terrain and moving to West Virginia with scenic mountain views
- Swap the limited outdoor activities of Kansas for abundant outdoor adventures in West Virginia
- Get ready for fewer tornadoes in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Kansas to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Kansas to live with higher taxes in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of less crowding and have to settle with the con of a limited job market
- Time to bid farewell to a central location and get used to being more remote in West Virginia
- Swap plentiful farmland for rugged terrain
Kansas vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Brisket | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Ribs | Venison |
Most popular street food item | Kansas City-style BBQ | Hot Dogs with Sauce |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Mushroom Tacos |
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 West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Brisket of Kansas for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Ribs and sumptuous Kansas City-style BBQ, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Venison and Hot Dogs with Sauce 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 Mushroom Tacos of West 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, Q39, and Lidiaβs Kansas City. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Rambling Root, Pies & Pints, and Dem 2 Brothers and A Grill.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia, compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and West Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Bungalow | Cottage, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open spaces, Large yards | Mountain views, Privacy |
- The Ranch and Bungalow architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Cottage and Ranch architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference open spaces and large yards, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and privacy.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; West Virginia is less walkable than Kansas.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; West Virginia is less bike-friendly than Kansas.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than Kansas.
- West Virginia housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased by 37% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in West Virginia is 8.94% more affordable than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and West Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | West 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 | Floods, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 68Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F / 20Β°F | 41Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28-40" | 40-60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 12-30" | 24-42" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 29% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- West 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 floods and winter storms in West Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 6 degrees colder than Kansas.
- The average winter lows in West Virginia are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and West Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 5.7 | 6.5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4 | 0.5 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7 | 6.5 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aerospace | Coal Mining, Healthcare, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 21% less than those in Kansas
- The COLI in West Virginia will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in WV is 6.5 compared to 5.7 in KS
- The affluence in West Virginia is low compared to moderate in Kansas
- The poverty level is high in West Virginia compared to moderate in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and low in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Varies by region; urban areas more liberal | Rural and often conservative in local governance |
Religion | Christianity predominant; diverse religious communities in urban areas | Primarily Christian; smaller religious communities throughout |
- Kansas tends to lean mixed and leans Republican in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with smaller religious communities throughout
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to West Virginia
Comparison | Kansas | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Corinth Elementary School (Prairie Village) Meadowbrook Elementary School (Overland Park) Briarwood Elementary School (Overland Park) | North Elementary School (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) Steenrod Elementary School (Wheeling) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle School (Leawood) Indian Hills Middle School (Prairie Village) Harmony Middle School (Overland Park) | Winfield Middle School (Winfield) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village) Blue Valley High School (Stilwell) | George Washington High School (Charleston) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) Bishop Seabury Academy (Lawrence) The Independent School (Wichita) | Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Kansas City Christian School (Prairie Village) | Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe District Schools | Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County Schools Jefferson County Schools |
How Much Do Kansas to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,073 miles from Kansas to West Virginia will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,811 | 300 ft3 | $6.04 |
1 Bedroom | $2,694 | 450 ft3 | $5.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,452 | 750 ft3 | $5.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,475 | 1100 ft3 | $5.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,338 | 1600 ft3 | $5.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,415 | 1800 ft3 | $5.79 |