North Dakota to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,196 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Lefse vs Salmon), real estate & housing (ranch vs modern and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Buffalo steak, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Seafood (Salmon, Crab)
- Washington housing costs are 133% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Washington is 93.17% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
North Dakota to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Washington
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Flat landscapes
- Rural isolation
- Fewer cultural amenities
- Mild winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Scenic mountains
- Vibrant urban life
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher cost of living
- Less personal interaction
- Dense urban areas
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Spacious living
- Unique small-town charm
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Washington
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Washington with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the flat landscapes of North Dakota for scenic mountains in Washington
- Get ready for vibrant urban life in Washington
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in North Dakota to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle with the con of less personal interaction
- Time to bid farewell to spacious living and get used to dense urban areas in Washington
- Swap unique small-town charm for a fast-paced lifestyle
North Dakota vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Buffalo steak | Seafood (Salmon, Crab) |
Most popular street food item | Fried Walleye | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Knoephla soup (vegan version) | Apple-based dishes |
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 Dakota to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Buffalo steak and sumptuous Fried Walleye, Washington residents know they have tasty Seafood (Salmon, Crab) and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Knoephla soup (vegan version) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Apple-based dishes of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, Pirogue Grille, and Blarney Stone Pub. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Pike Place Chowder, Canlis, and Salumi.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Washington
Comparison | North Dakota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Modern and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, garages | Eco-friendly features, views |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and garages, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly amenities and views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Washington housing costs are 133% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Washington is 93.17% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Washington
Comparison | North Dakota | 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 | Blizzards, Floods | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/55Β°F | 74Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F/2Β°F | 47Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17.8" | 38.4" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 46" | 200" (in mountain areas) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Dakota to Washington. Washington gets 24% fewer sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower 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 earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 8 degrees colder than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 34 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 20.6 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Washington
Comparison | North Dakota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 1.41 to 2.90 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.05 | 0.92 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.85 | 8.88 |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Tech, Aerospace, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rare | Common |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 27% more than those in North Dakota
- The COLI in Washington is 9% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- 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 Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to low poverty level in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is rare in North Dakota and common in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Washington
Comparison | North Dakota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated | Democrat-dominated |
Religion | Christian majority | Mixed, less religious overall |
- North Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as mixed and less religious overall
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Washington
Comparison | North Dakota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Minot State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Fargo) Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Lincoln Elementary (Bismarck) | Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) Discovery Elementary (Gig Harbor) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Wachter Middle School (Bismarck) | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Olympia) |
Top 3 High Schools | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Grand Forks Central High School (Grand Forks) | Lakeside School (Seattle) Newport High School (Bellevue) Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma) |
Top 3 private high schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) | Lakeside School (Seattle) Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma) The Overlake School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) | The Bush School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) The Overlake School (Redmond) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Olympia School District |
How Much Do North Dakota to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,196 miles from North Dakota to Washington will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,881 | 300 ft3 | $6.27 |
1 Bedroom | $2,798 | 450 ft3 | $6.22 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,626 | 750 ft3 | $6.17 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,730 | 1100 ft3 | $6.12 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,709 | 1600 ft3 | $6.07 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,833 | 1800 ft3 | $6.02 |
Top North Dakota to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Washington