Mississippi to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 2,488 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild summer climates), food & health (like Catfish vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Pulled pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Grilled salmon
- Washington housing costs are 231% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Washington is 44.01% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Mississippi to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Washington
- High humidity
- Limited job diversity
- Few entertainment options
- Low-ranking education
- Mild summer climates
- Diverse job market
- Plentiful cultural attractions
- Quality educational institutions
- Higher cost of living
- Potential for isolation
- Less historic presence
- Different food culture
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Rich local history
- Southern cuisine
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Washington
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to mild summer climates
- Look forward to moving away from limited job diversity and moving to Washington with a diverse job market
- Swap the few entertainment options of Mississippi for plentiful cultural attractions in Washington
- Get ready for quality educational institutions in Washington
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Mississippi to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle with the con of the potential for isolation
- Time to bid farewell to rich local history and get used to a less historic presence in Washington
- Swap southern cuisine for a different food culture
Mississippi vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork BBQ | Grilled salmon |
Most popular street food item | Hot Tamales | Taco Trucks |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Quinoa salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Hot Tamales, Washington residents know they have tasty Grilled Salmon and Taco Trucks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like Mayflower Cafe, Weidmann's, and Bully's. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Matt's in the Market, and Salumi.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Washington
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Eco-friendly features, Proximity to public transit |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly amenities and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Washington housing costs are 231% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Washington is 44.01% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Washington
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/72 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57/38 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 47 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to Washington. Washington gets 29% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Washington has higher 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 earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 16 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 21 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Washington
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 4-5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81% | 0.92% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07% | 8.87% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Technology, Aerospace, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Lower |
Homelessness | Lower | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 73% more than those in Mississippi
- The COLI in Washington is 13% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate in Mississippi
- The poverty level is lower in Washington compared to significant in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in Mississippi and higher in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Washington
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservatively inclined | Liberal-leaning |
Local Politics | More Republican | Primarily Democrat |
Religion | Higher Christian denomination presence | More varied, with significant non-religious population |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservatively in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as liberal-leaning
- Washington's religious environment can be described as more varied, with a significant non-religious population
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a higher presence of Christian denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Washington
Comparison | Mississippi | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Madison Station Elementary (Madison) Oxford Elementary (Oxford) North Bay Elementary (Biloxi) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Bennett Elementary (Bellevue) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle School (Madison) Germantown Middle (Germantown) Oxford Middle School (Oxford) | International School (Bellevue) Tyee Middle School (Bellevue) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) |
Top 3 High Schools | Oxford High School (Oxford) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) Madison Central High School (Madison) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Saint Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | French Camp Academy (French Camp) Starkville Academy (Starkville) Heritage Academy (Columbus) | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Open Window School (Bellevue) Northwest Yeshiva High School (Mercer Island) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Oxford School District Clinton Public School District | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Mississippi to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,488 miles from Mississippi to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,613 | 300 ft3 | $8.71 |
1 Bedroom | $3,897 | 450 ft3 | $8.66 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,458 | 750 ft3 | $8.61 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,416 | 1100 ft3 | $8.56 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,616 | 1600 ft3 | $8.51 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,228 | 1800 ft3 | $8.46 |
Top Mississippi to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to Washington