New Hampshire to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 487 mile interstate move from New Hampshire to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Hampshire vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Lobster Roll vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs federal, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lobster Roll and Boiled Dinner, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce Wings
- DC housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in New Hampshire
- Rent in DC is 21.95% more expensive than in New Hampshire
- Moving from New Hampshire to DC will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended New Hampshire to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
New Hampshire to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Hampshire to DC
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- Lesser public transport
- Fewer cultural events
- Milder climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant city life
- Extensive Metro system
- Rich cultural scene
- Urban congestion
- High living expenses
- Hectic pace
- Notorious traffic jams
- Impersonal interactions
- Scenic beauty
- Lower cost of living
- Quiet lifestyle
- Less traffic
- Community feel
Pros of moving from New Hampshire to DC
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to DC with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of New Hampshire for vibrant city life in DC
- Get ready for an extensive Metro system in DC
Cons of moving from New Hampshire to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic beauty in New Hampshire to live with urban congestion in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of high living expenses
- Time to bid farewell to a quiet lifestyle and get used to the hectic pace in DC
- Swap less traffic for notorious traffic jams
New Hampshire vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lobster Roll | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Boiled Dinner | Mumbo Sauce Wings |
Most popular street food item | Maple Syrup Candies | Food Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Maple Creemees | Vegan Soul Food |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 New Hampshire to DC, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of New Hampshire for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in New Hampshire rave about their flavorful Boiled Dinner and sumptuous Maple Syrup Candies, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Food Truck Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Maple Creemees they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Soul Food of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Hampshire eateries like The Common Man, Polly's Pancake Parlor, and Lexie's Joint. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rosa's Thai Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Hampshire. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in New Hampshire. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Hampshire and DC
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Federal, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Privacy, Scenic Views | Proximity to Metro, Eco-friendly features |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Hampshire is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to New Hampshire's real estate listings that commonly reference privacy and scenic views, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to metro and eco-friendly features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than New Hampshire.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than New Hampshire.
- DC has more of an urban feel than New Hampshire.
- DC housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in New Hampshire, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to New Hampshireβs $465,926.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 68% increase in New Hampshire.
- Rent in DC is 21.95% more expensive than in New Hampshire.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Hampshire and DC
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Hurricanes, Heatwaves |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F/55Β°F | 89Β°F/71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F/15Β°F | 47Β°F/29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 40" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | 15.5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Hampshire to DC. DC gets 2% more sunshine days than New Hampshire.
- DC has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New Hampshire.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and heatwaves in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 9 degrees warmer than New Hampshire.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in New Hampshire.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to New Hampshire.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Hampshire and DC
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,992 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.8 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.05% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Construction | Government, Professional Services, Education |
Affluence | Comfortable | Prosperous |
Poverty | Moderate | Notable |
Homelessness | Limited | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 12% more than those in New Hampshire
- The COLI in DC will be 20% higher than what you are used to living in New Hampshire
- Bummer... By moving from NH to DC, you'll now have a state income tax of 4%
- The affluence in DC is prosperous compared to comfortable in New Hampshire
- The poverty level is notable in DC compared to moderate in New Hampshire
- In terms of homelessness, it is limited in New Hampshire and concerning in DC
Political and Religious Climate in New Hampshire vs. DC
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with a balanced mix of Republicans and Democrats | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Known for its first-in-the-nation presidential primary | Local governance focuses on home rule and federal oversight |
Religion | Protestant and Catholic are significant, with a growing non-religious segment | Diverse religious landscape, but with a significant Catholic population |
- New Hampshire tends to lean swing state with a balanced mix of Republicans and Democrats in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- DC's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape but with a significant Catholic population
- New Hampshire's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic, with a growing non-religious segment
Education Guide When Moving from New Hampshire to DC
Comparison | New Hampshire | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University | Georgetown University George Washington University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Maude H. Trefethen School (New Castle) Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Matthew Thornton Elementary School (Londonderry) | Janney Elementary School (Washington) Lafayette Elementary School (Washington) Mann Elementary School (Washington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Rye Junior High School (Rye) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Amherst Middle School (Amherst) | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) Alice Deal Junior High School (Washington) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Bedford High School (Bedford) Hanover High School (Hanover) | Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (Washington) School Without Walls High School (Washington) McKinley Technology High School (Washington) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) St. Albans School (Washington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hanover School District Bedford School District Bow School District | DC Public Schools |
How Much Do New Hampshire to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 487 miles from New Hampshire to DC will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,257 | 300 ft3 | $4.19 |
1 Bedroom | $1,866 | 450 ft3 | $4.15 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,078 | 750 ft3 | $4.10 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,468 | 1100 ft3 | $4.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,431 | 1600 ft3 | $4.02 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,158 | 1800 ft3 | $3.98 |
Top New Hampshire to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Hampshire to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.