Minnesota to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 1,309 mile interstate move from Minnesota to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Hotdish vs Ham biscuits), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs colonial and cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Ham biscuits & Barbecue pork
- Virginia housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in Virginia is 9.84% more expensive than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Minnesota to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Minnesota to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to Virginia
- Long, harsh winters
- Limited job market
- High taxes
- Remote from coast
- Milder climate
- Growing job opportunities
- Lower tax rates
- Near beaches
- Fewer natural lakes
- Varied school quality
- More transient cities
- Less prominent cultural events
- Fantastic lakes and parks
- Excellent schools
- Friendly communities
- Rich cultural scene
Pros of moving from Minnesota to Virginia
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Virginia with growing job opportunities
- Swap the high taxes of Minnesota for lower tax rates in Virginia
- Get ready for nearby beaches in Virginia
Cons of moving from Minnesota to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from fantastic lakes and parks in Minnesota to live with fewer natural lakes in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of excellent schools and have to settle for the con of varied school quality
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to more transient cities in Virginia
- Swap a rich cultural scene for less prominent cultural events
Minnesota vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Ham biscuits |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Barbecue pork |
Most popular street food item | Juicy Lucy | Soft-shell crab sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Wild rice soup | Chesapeake Bay vegetable soup |
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 Minnesota to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Ham Biscuits of Virginia. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Juicy Lucy, Virginia residents know they have tasty Barbecue Pork and Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Chesapeake Bay Vegetable Soup of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Cafe Alma. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Shack, The Inn at Little Washington, and Leaping Lizard Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows an equal emphasis on fitness and health consciousness compared to Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and Virginia
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Colonial and Cape Cod |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside views, Large yards | Historical significance, Proximity to the coast |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside views and large yards, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historical significance and proximity to the coast.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Minnesota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- Virginia housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Minnesota's $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in Virginia is 9.84% more expensive than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and Virginia
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Blizzards, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 83/63 | 86/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 24/8 | 48/29 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 54 | 14 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Minnesota to Virginia. Virginia gets 4% more sunshine days than Minnesota.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 3 degrees warmer than in Minnesota.
- The average winter lows in Virginia are 21 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 10 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and Virginia
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 6.8% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.15% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.4% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education | Government, Technology, Defense |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 4% more than those in Minnesota
- The COLI in Virginia will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 6.8% in MN
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate in Minnesota
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to medium in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Minnesota and low in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. Virginia
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State, recently leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal urban centers with conservative rural areas | Mix of conservative rural areas and liberal urban regions |
Religion | Primarily Christian, large Lutheran NALC & ELCA presence | Primarily Christian, Baptist predominant |
- Minnesota tends to lean Democratic 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 primarily Christian, with a Baptist predominance
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, with a large Lutheran NALC and ELCA presence
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to Virginia
Comparison | Minnesota | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (Stillwater) Deephaven Elementary (Minnetonka) | Arlington Science Focus (Arlington) Longfellow Elementary (Falls Church) Haycock Elementary (Falls Church) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Middle (Stillwater) | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) |
Top 3 High Schools | Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Edina High School (Edina) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy (St. Paul) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) The Madeira School (McLean) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) |
Top 3 School Districts | Minnetonka Public School District Eden Prairie Schools Edina Public Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Falls Church City Public Schools |
How Much Do Minnesota to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,309 miles from Minnesota 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: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,945 | 300 ft3 | $6.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,894 | 450 ft3 | $6.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,786 | 750 ft3 | $6.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,965 | 1100 ft3 | $6.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,051 | 1600 ft3 | $6.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,218 | 1800 ft3 | $6.23 |
Top Minnesota to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.