North Carolina to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 2,778 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane season vs milder weather), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern NC barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pacific Northwest crab cakes
- Washington housing costs are 80% more expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Washington is 13.82% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
North Carolina to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Washington
- Hurricane season
- Expensive healthcare
- Limited public transport
- High humidity
- Milder weather
- Better job opportunities
- Efficient public transit
- Lower humidity
- Higher cost of living
- Overcast weather
- Less sunshine
- Traffic congestion
- Southern charm
- Rich history
- Delicious BBQ
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Washington
- Say goodbye to hurricane season and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from expensive healthcare and moving to Washington with better job opportunities
- Swap the limited public transport of North Carolina for efficient public transit in Washington
- Get ready for lower humidity in Washington
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern charm in North Carolina to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle with the con of overcast weather
- Time to bid farewell to delicious BBQ and get used to less sunshine in Washington
- Swap friendly communities for traffic congestion
North Carolina vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern NC barbecue | Pacific Northwest crab cakes |
Most popular street food item | Barbecue sandwiches | Seattle hot dog |
Most popular vegan food | Barbecue jackfruit | Mushroom bao |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern NC barbecue and sumptuous Barbecue sandwiches, Washington residents know they have tasty Pacific Northwest crab cakes and Seattle hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Barbecue jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Mushroom bao of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like 12 Bones Smokehouse, Stamey's Barbecue, and Buxton Hall Barbecue. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Mamnoon.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Washington
Comparison | North Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Garages | Energy efficiency, Natural light |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Modern architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and natural light.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Washington housing costs are 80% more expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Washington is 13.82% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Washington
Comparison | North Carolina | 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, Volcanos |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 57"* |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Carolina to Washington. Washington gets 29% fewer sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Washington has higher 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 earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 12 degrees colder than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Washington
Comparison | North Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.86% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.75% | 9.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Technology, Agriculture | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 35% more than they do in North Carolina
- The COLI in Washington will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in North Carolina
- The poverty level is low in Washington compared to moderate poverty in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Carolina and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Washington
Comparison | North Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Democratic-Leaning |
Local Politics | Mixed Urban/Rural Divide | Urban Liberal, Rural Conservative |
Religion | Baptist, Evangelical | Less Religiously Affiliated |
- North Carolina tends to lean swing state in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Baptist and Evangelical
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Washington
Comparison | North Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | UNC Chapel Hill NC State University Duke University | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Endhaven Elementary - Charlotte Brooks Global Studies - Greensboro Polo Ridge Elementary - Charlotte | Cascadia Elementary - Seattle Challenge Elementary - Everett Discovery Primary School - Gig Harbor |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy - Charlotte Quest Middle - Chapel Hill Jay M Robinson Middle - Charlotte | International School - Bellevue Odle Middle School - Bellevue Washington Middle School - Seattle |
Top 3 High School Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics - Durham Raleigh Charter High School - Raleigh Early College at Guilford - Greensboro | Lakeside School - Seattle Newport High School - Bellevue International School - Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Latin School - Charlotte Providence Day School - Charlotte Cary Academy - Cary | Overlake School - Redmond Annie Wright Schools - Tacoma Eastside Preparatory School - Kirkland |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charlotte Country Day School - Charlotte Durham Academy - Durham Greensboro Day School - Greensboro | The Bush School - Seattle Seattle Waldorf School - Seattle The Bear Creek School - Redmond |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Wake County Public School System | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do North Carolina to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,778 miles from North Carolina to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,777 | 300 ft3 | $9.26 |
1 Bedroom | $4,144 | 450 ft3 | $9.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,869 | 750 ft3 | $9.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,019 | 1100 ft3 | $9.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,493 | 1600 ft3 | $9.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,214 | 1800 ft3 | $9.01 |
Top North Carolina to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Washington