Nebraska to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,392 mile interstate move from Nebraska to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Nebraska vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Runza vs Salmon), real estate & housing (ranch vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Runza and Beef Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Cedar Plank Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 130% more expensive than they are in Nebraska
- Rent in Washington is 54.42% more expensive than in Nebraska
- Moving from Nebraska to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Nebraska to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Nebraska to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Nebraska to Washington
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Flat landscapes
- Mild climate
- Urban diversity
- Mountain views
- Higher expenses
- Denser populations
- Less open farmland
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Rich agricultural heritage
Pros of moving from Nebraska to Washington
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Washington with urban diversity
- Swap the flat landscapes of Nebraska for mountain views in Washington
Cons of moving from Nebraska to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Nebraska to live with higher expenses in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle with the con of denser populations
- Time to bid farewell to a rich agricultural heritage and get used to less open farmland in Washington
Nebraska vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Nebraska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Runza | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Steak | Cedar Plank Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Corn Dogs | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Black Bean Burgers | Quinoa Salad |
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 Nebraska to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Runza of Nebraska for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Nebraska rave about their flavorful Beef Steak and sumptuous Corn Dogs, Washington residents know they have tasty Cedar Plank Salmon and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black Bean Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Nebraska eateries like The Boiler Room, Misty's Steakhouse, and Block 16. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and Matt's in the Market.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Nebraska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Nebraska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Nebraska and Washington
Comparison | Nebraska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, quiet neighborhoods | Eco-friendly features, proximity to public transit |
- The Ranch architecture that Nebraska is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Nebraska's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly options and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Nebraska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Nebraska.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Nebraska.
- Washington housing costs are 130% more expensive than they are in Nebraska, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Nebraskaβs $257,167.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 47% increase in Nebraska.
- Rent in Washington is 54.42% more expensive than in Nebraska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Nebraska and Washington
Comparison | Nebraska | 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 | Tornadoes, Hailstorms | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 64Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 13Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 49 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Nebraska to Washington. Washington gets 32% fewer sunshine days than Nebraska.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Nebraska.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and hailstorms in Nebraska, 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 10 degrees colder than in Nebraska.
- The average winter lows are 23 degrees warmer than they are in Nebraska.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Nebraska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Nebraska and Washington
Comparison | Nebraska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,597 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.85 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.40% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.70% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 9.29% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 31% more than those in Nebraska
- The COLI in Washington will be 15% higher than what you are used to living in Nebraska
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Nebraska
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to low in Nebraska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Nebraska and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Nebraska vs. Washington
Comparison | Nebraska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican-dominated | Liberal/Democrat-dominated |
Local Politics | Focuses on agricultural and rural interests | Emphasizes technology, environment, and urban issues |
Religion | Higher emphasis on Christianity, with significant Protestant and Catholic populations | More secular, with a lower overall emphasis on religion, though diverse religious communities exist |
- Nebraska tends to lean Conservative/Republican-dominated in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democrat-dominated
- Washington's religious environment can be described as more secular with a lower overall emphasis on religion, though diverse religious communities exist
- Nebraska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a higher emphasis on Christianity with significant Protestant and Catholic populations
Education Guide When Moving from Nebraska to Washington
Comparison | Nebraska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska Wesleyan University Creighton University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Paddock Road Elementary (Omaha) Swanson Elementary (Omaha) Rousseau Elementary (Lincoln) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Sammamish) Medina Elementary (Medina) Challenger Elementary (Issaquah) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Elkhorn Ridge Middle School (Elkhorn) Scott Middle School (Lincoln) Kiewit Middle School (Omaha) | International School (Bellevue) Evergreen Middle School (Redmond) Islander Middle School (Mercer Island) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln East High School (Lincoln) Millard North High School (Omaha) Elkhorn South High School (Elkhorn) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Skyline High School (Sammamish) |
Top 3 private high schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Mount Michael Benedictine School (Elkhorn) Marian High School (Omaha) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Omaha Christian Academy (Omaha) Lincoln Christian School (Lincoln) | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) The Northwest School (Seattle) |
Top 3 School Districts | Elkhorn Public Schools Millard Public Schools Westside Community Schools | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Nebraska to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,392 miles from Nebraska to Washington will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- 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 | $1,992 | 300 ft3 | $6.64 |
1 Bedroom | $2,965 | 450 ft3 | $6.59 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,904 | 750 ft3 | $6.54 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,138 | 1100 ft3 | $6.49 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,302 | 1600 ft3 | $6.44 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,500 | 1800 ft3 | $6.39 |
Top Nebraska to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Nebraska to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Nebraska to Washington