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North Dakota to Virginia Moving Guide

Updated June 23, 2025

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Planning a 1,617 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme winter weather vs milder winter temperatures), food & health (like Lefse vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Lefse and Buffalo steak, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Crab cakes
  • Virginia housing costs are 52% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
  • Rent in Virginia is 79.33% more expensive than in North Dakota
  • Moving from North Dakota to Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
  • Our top recommended North Dakota to Virginia movers is ARS Movers

North Dakota to Virginia Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Virginia

ConsNorth Dakota iconNorth Dakota
  • extreme winter weather
  • limited job diversity
  • remote locations
  • fewer cultural events
ProsVirginia iconVirginia
  • milder winter temperatures
  • robust job market
  • more urban areas
  • rich historical sites

Virginia iconVirginia
  • higher living expenses
  • faster pace of life
  • more transient population
  • higher crime rates
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota
  • low cost of living
  • peaceful lifestyle
  • strong local ties
  • low crime rates

Pros of moving from North Dakota to Virginia

  • Say goodbye to extreme winter weather and hello to milder winter temperatures
  • Look forward to moving away from limited job diversity and moving to Virginia with a robust job market
  • Swap the remote locations of North Dakota for more urban areas in Virginia
  • Get ready for rich historical sites in Virginia

Cons of moving from North Dakota to Virginia

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in North Dakota to live with higher living expenses in Virginia
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a peaceful lifestyle and have to settle with the con of a faster pace of life
  • Time to bid farewell to strong local ties and get used to a more transient population in Virginia
  • Swap low crime rates for higher crime rates

North Dakota vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Most iconic local food itemLefseVirginia Ham
Most popular meat dishBuffalo steakCrab cakes
Most popular street food itemTaco trucksOyster po'boy
Most popular vegan foodWild rice burgerVegan BBQ jackfruit
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Kroll's Diner
  • Pitchfork Steak Fondue
  • HoDo Restaurant
  • The Shed BBQ
  • The Inn at Little Washington
  • L’Opossum
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from North Dakota to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Buffalo steak and sumptuous Taco trucks, Virginia residents know they have tasty Crab cakes and Oyster po'boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild rice burger 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 North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and HoDo Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Shed BBQ, The Inn at Little Washington, and L’Opossum.

When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Virginia

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Typical Architecture StyleRanchColonial
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingOpen spaces, garageHistoric properties, proximity to amenities
  • The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Virginia.
  • Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference open spaces and garages, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic properties and proximity to amenities.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than North Dakota.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
  • Virginia has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
  • Virginia housing costs are 52% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to North Dakota’s $253,395.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
  • Rent in Virginia is 79.33% more expensive than in North Dakota.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Virginia

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersBlizzards, floodsHurricanes, floods
Air QualityGoodVariable
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)82Β°F / 56Β°F87Β°F / 66Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)18Β°F / 0Β°F47Β°F / 29Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)17-22"42-44"
Annual Snowfall (Inches)35-45"10-20"
  • Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Virginia. Virginia gets 2% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
  • Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
  • Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Virginia.
  • Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 5 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
  • The average winter lows are 29 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
  • Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 25 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.

Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Virginia

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Avg. Household Income$71,970$85,873
Cost of Living Index95.396.6
State Income Tax1.10% - 2.90%2.00% - 5.75%
Avg. Property Tax1.05%0.80%
Avg. Sales Tax5.25%5.30%
Top 3 IndustriesEnergy, Agriculture, ManufacturingGovernment, Technology, Agriculture
AffluenceModerateHigh
PovertyLowModerate
HomelessnessLowModerate
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 19% more than those in North Dakota
  • The COLI in Virginia will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
  • The state income tax in VA is 2.00% to 5.75% compared to 1.10% to 2.90% in ND
  • The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate in North Dakota
  • The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to low in North Dakota
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and moderate in Virginia

Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Virginia

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Political Make-upConservativeModerately liberal
Local PoliticsRepublican dominanceMixed; increasingly Democratic
ReligionMainly ProtestantDiverse; Christianity prevails
  • North Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
  • Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal
  • Virginia's religious environment can be described as diverse and Christianity prevails
  • North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Protestant

Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Virginia

ComparisonNorth DakotaVirginia
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of North Dakota
North Dakota State University
Minot State University
Virginia Tech
University of Virginia
James Madison University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsFreedom Elementary (West Fargo)
Liberty Elementary (Bismarck)
Lincoln Elementary (Dickinson)
Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington)
Westbriar Elementary (Vienna)
Lucketts Elementary (Leesburg)
Top 3 Middle SchoolsBismarck Middle School (Bismarck)
Horizon Middle School (Moorhead)
Discovery Middle School (Fargo)
Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church)
Frost Middle School (Fairfax)
Henley Middle School (Crozet)
Top 3 High School SchoolsCentury High School (Bismarck)
South High School (Fargo)
Red River High School (Grand Forks)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria)
McLean High School (McLean)
Langley High School (McLean)
Top 3 private high schoolsShanley High School (Fargo)
Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo)
Trinity High School (Dickinson)
The Madeira School (McLean)
Norfolk Academy (Norfolk)
St. Christopher’s School (Richmond)
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsOak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo)
Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck)
Trinity High School (Dickinson)
Collegiate School (Richmond)
Flint Hill School (Oakton)
The Potomac School (McLean)
Top 3 School DistrictsFargo Public Schools
Bismarck Public Schools
West Fargo Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
Loudoun County Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools

How Much Do North Dakota to Virginia Movers Cost?

Moving 1,617 miles from North Dakota to Virginia will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$2,119300 ft3$7.06
1 Bedroom$3,156450 ft3$7.01
2 Bedrooms$5,223750 ft3$6.96
3 Bedrooms$7,6051100 ft3$6.91
4 Bedrooms$10,9821600 ft3$6.86
5+ Bedrooms$12,2651800 ft3$6.81

Top North Dakota to Virginia Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
ARS Movers featured image

ARS Movers

Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Virginia

9.64/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
A Change of Place Movers

A Change of Place Movers

9.59/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Two Men and a Truck featured image

Two Men and a Truck

9.30/10
ExceptionalView details
Top North Dakota to Virginia Routes

Fargo to Virginia