Mississippi to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 784 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid climate vs more temperate seasons), food & health (like Catfish vs Ham), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Ham & BBQ Pork
- Virginia housing costs are 116% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Virginia is 33.69% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Mississippi to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Virginia
- Hot, humid climate
- Fewer educational opportunities
- Limited public transport
- Fewer job opportunities
- More temperate seasons
- Renowned schools and universities
- Extensive public transportation
- Diverse job market
- Higher cost of living
- Fast-paced environment
- More competitive lifestyle
- More urban sprawl
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Rich cultural history
- Close-knit neighborhoods
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Virginia
- Say goodbye to the hot, humid climate and hello to more temperate seasons
- Look forward to moving away from fewer educational opportunities and moving to Virginia with renowned schools and universities
- Swap the limited public transport of Mississippi for extensive public transportation in Virginia
- Get ready for a diverse job market in Virginia
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Mississippi to live with a higher cost of living in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of a fast-paced environment
- Time to bid farewell to the rich cultural history and get used to a more competitive lifestyle in Virginia
- Swap close-knit neighborhoods for more urban sprawl
Mississippi vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | BBQ Pork |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Food Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Soul Food | Vegan BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Mississippi to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Tamales, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ Pork and Food Truck Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Soul Food they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan BBQ Jackfruit of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like Doe's Eat Place, City Grocery, and Snackbar. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like La Madeleine, The Inn at Little Washington, and Pupatella.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, privacy | Access to amenities, historic charm |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and privacy, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like access to amenities and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Virginia is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Virginia is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Virginia housing costs are 116% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Virginia is 33.69% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/70 | 87/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57/38 | 47/27 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 10-20 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to Virginia. Virginia gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and winter storms in Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 4 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 15 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07% | 5.30% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Fishing | Technology, Government, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 63% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in Virginia will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 5% in MS
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate affluence in Mississippi
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to high poverty in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Moderately liberal/Conservative mix |
Local Politics | Republican dominance | Diverse; Democratic in urban, Republican in rural areas |
Religion | Protestant, with a strong evangelical presence | Mixed, with Protestant, Catholic, and non-religious communities |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as a moderately liberal and conservative mix
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as mixed, with Protestant, Catholic, and non-religious communities
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant, with a strong evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Madison Station Elementary (Madison) Oak Park Elementary (Ocean Springs) | Westbriar Elementary (Vienna) Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Lucketts Elementary (Leesburg) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle School (Madison) NW Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Lewisburg Middle School (Olive Branch) | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) Madison Central High School (Madison) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | Thomas Jefferson S&T (Alexandria) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) The Potomac School (McLean) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Jackson Academy (Jackson) French Camp Academy (French Camp) | The Langley School (McLean) The Madeira School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County School District Rankin County School District Clinton Public School District | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Mississippi to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 784 miles from Mississippi to Virginia will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,647 | 300 ft3 | $5.49 |
1 Bedroom | $2,448 | 450 ft3 | $5.44 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,042 | 750 ft3 | $5.39 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,874 | 1100 ft3 | $5.34 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,464 | 1600 ft3 | $5.29 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,432 | 1800 ft3 | $5.24 |
Top Mississippi to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.