North Carolina to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 155 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane risks vs milder weather), food & health (like Pulled Pork BBQ vs Ham), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled Pork BBQ and Eastern BBQ Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Ham & Fried Chicken
- Virginia housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Virginia is 5.67% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Virginia will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
North Carolina to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Virginia
- Hurricane risks
- Heavy pollen
- Limited public transit
- Less diverse culture
- Milder weather
- Rich historical sites
- Extensive transit options
- Diverse cultural scenes
- Cooler beaches
- Higher cost of living
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Less musical variety
- Warm beaches
- Affordable living
- Southern hospitality
- Vibrant music scenes
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Virginia
- Say goodbye to hurricane risks and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from heavy pollen and moving to Virginia with rich historical sites
- Swap the limited public transit of North Carolina for extensive transit options in Virginia
- Get ready for diverse cultural scenes in Virginia
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm beaches in North Carolina to live with cooler beaches in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable living and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to a fast-paced lifestyle in Virginia
- Swap vibrant music scenes for less musical variety
North Carolina vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled Pork BBQ | Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern BBQ Ribs | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Half-smoke |
Most popular vegan food | Smoked BBQ Jackfruit | Avocado Toast |
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 North Carolina to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern BBQ Ribs and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Virginia residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Half-smoke to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Smoked BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like 12 Bones Smokehouse, Merritt's, and Lantern. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Shack, L'Auberge Chez Francois, and Mama J's.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Virginia
Comparison | North Carolina | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, open floor plans | Historic homes, proximity to amenities |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and open floor plans, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Virginia housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in North Carolina with a median home price of $385,780 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Virginia is 5.67% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Virginia
Comparison | North Carolina | 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, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°/66Β° | 86Β°/65Β° |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°/30Β° | 48Β°/28Β° |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 10-20" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Carolina to Virginia. Virginia gets 4% fewer sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 1 degree warmer than North Carolina.
- The average winter lows in Virginia are 2 degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Virginia
Comparison | North Carolina | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 2% - 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.86% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 5.3% - 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Finance, Manufacturing | Government, Agriculture, Tech |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Noticeable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 27% more than in North Carolina
- The COLI in Virginia is 1% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in VA is 2% to 5.75% compared to 5.25% in NC
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to noticeable in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in North Carolina and low in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Virginia
Comparison | North Carolina | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, leans slightly Republican | Swing state, recently leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Mix of conservative and liberal depending on area | Tends to be more liberal in urban areas, conservative in rural |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a mix of other faiths | Christianity dominant, but with a significant presence of other religions |
- North Carolina tends to lean swing state and leans slightly Republican in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as swing state and recently leans Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant but with a significant presence of other religions
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominant with a mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Virginia
Comparison | North Carolina | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Eastover Elementary (Charlotte) | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary (Vienna) Westbriar Elementary (Vienna) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) Community House Middle School (Charlotte) Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Rocky Run Middle School (Chantilly) |
Top 3 High School Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Myers Park High School (Charlotte) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) | The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) Madeira School (McLean) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Cary Academy (Cary) Providence Day School (Charlotte) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) | Flint Hill School (Oakton) Collegiate School (Richmond) The Steward School (Richmond) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do North Carolina to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 155 miles from North Carolina to Virginia will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,097 | 300 ft3 | $3.66 |
1 Bedroom | $1,626 | 450 ft3 | $3.61 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,678 | 750 ft3 | $3.57 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,881 | 1100 ft3 | $3.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,578 | 1600 ft3 | $3.49 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,198 | 1800 ft3 | $3.44 |
Top North Carolina to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.