Mississippi to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 798 mile interstate move from Mississippi to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like Catfish vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs cape cod, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in West Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Country Ham
- West Virginia housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in West Virginia is 27.03% more affordable than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to West Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Mississippi to West Virginia movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
Mississippi to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to West Virginia
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Heavy mosquitoes
- Flat landscapes
- Cooler temperatures
- Less extreme weather
- Fewer bugs
- Mountainous scenery
- Less diversity
- Fewer restaurant choices
- Limited nightlife
- Colder winters
- Southern hospitality
- Rich culinary scene
- Vibrant music culture
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from Mississippi to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to West Virginia with less extreme weather
- Swap the heavy mosquitoes of Mississippi for fewer bugs in West Virginia
- Get ready for mountainous scenery in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Mississippi to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from Southern hospitality in Mississippi to live with less diversity in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich culinary scene and have to settle for the con of fewer restaurant choices
- Time to bid farewell to a vibrant music culture and get used to limited nightlife in West Virginia
- Swap mild winters for colder winters
Mississippi vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Country Ham |
Most popular street food item | Hot Tamales | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular vegan food | Okra | Foraged Ramps |
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 West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious pepperoni roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful pulled pork BBQ and sumptuous hot tamales, West Virginia residents know they have tasty country ham and pepperoni roll to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the okra they've grown to love, they can get ready for the foraged ramps of West Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like The Mayflower CafΓ©, City Grocery, and Walker's Drive-In. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Tudor's Biscuit World, Pat White's 123 Pleasant Street, and Cathedral CafΓ©.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and West Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Cape Cod, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to schools | Natural surroundings, quiet neighborhoods |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Craftsman architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to schools, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like natural surroundings and quiet neighborhoods.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. West Virginia is more walkable than Mississippi.
- West Virginia is similarly bike-friendly to Mississippi.
- West Virginia has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- West Virginia housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased by 37% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in West Virginia is 27.03% more affordable than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and West Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Floods, Snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 41Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 33 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 24% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- West 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 floods and snowstorms in West Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 6 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and West Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.81% | 0.59% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy | Coal, Healthcare, Tourism |
Affluence | Modest | Adequate |
Poverty | Higher | Relatively High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 3% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in West Virginia will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in WV is 6% compared to 5% in MS
- The affluence in West Virginia is adequate compared to modest in Mississippi
- The poverty level is relatively high in West Virginia compared to higher in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Mississippi and low in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans conservative | Increasingly conservative in recent years |
Local Politics | Local government tends to reflect state-level conservative values | Local governance can vary but generally aligns with conservative principles |
Religion | Highly religious, with a significant Baptist presence | Religiously diverse but with a notable Protestant majority |
- Mississippi tends to lean traditionally conservative in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as increasingly conservative in recent years
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse but with a notable Protestant majority
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to West Virginia
Comparison | Mississippi | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) Madison Station Elementary (Madison) | North Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) Krakatuk Nursery & Primary School (Charles Town) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle School (Madison) Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Germantown Middle School (Madison) | Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Mountaineer Middle School (Clarksburg) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 High Schools | Madison Central High School (Madison) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Saint Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) Wheeling Central Catholic High School (Wheeling) Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Joseph Catholic School (Madison) French Camp Academy (French Camp) Heritage Academy (Columbus) | Mercer Christian Academy (Princeton) Linsly School (Wheeling) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Clinton Public School District Rankin County School District | Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County Schools Harrison County Schools |
How Much Do Mississippi to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 798 miles from Mississippi to West 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: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,655 | 300 ft3 | $5.52 |
1 Bedroom | $2,460 | 450 ft3 | $5.47 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,062 | 750 ft3 | $5.42 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,903 | 1100 ft3 | $5.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,506 | 1600 ft3 | $5.32 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,479 | 1800 ft3 | $5.27 |
Top Mississippi to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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