New Mexico to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,536 mile interstate move from New Mexico to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert heat vs cooler seasons), food & health (like Green Chile vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & West Virginia Hot Dog
- West Virginia housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in West Virginia is 26.66% more affordable than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to West Virginia will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended New Mexico to West Virginia movers is JP Moving
New Mexico to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to West Virginia
- High desert heat
- Arid landscape
- Limited water resources
- Sparse population
- Cooler seasons
- Lush greenery
- Abundant rivers
- Community activities
- Less cultural diversity
- More rain
- Similarly low incomes
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Vibrant culture
- Sunny climate
- Low cost of living
- Rich history
Pros of moving from New Mexico to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to high desert heat and hello to cooler seasons
- Look forward to moving away from arid landscape and moving to West Virginia with lush greenery
- Swap the limited water resources of New Mexico for abundant rivers in West Virginia
- Get ready for community activities in West Virginia
Cons of moving from New Mexico to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant culture in New Mexico to live with less cultural diversity in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of sunny climate and have to settle with the con of more rain
- Time to bid farewell to low cost of living and get used to similarly low incomes in West Virginia
- Swap rich history for fewer historical landmarks
New Mexico vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | West Virginia Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Burritos | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Morel Mushrooms |
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 New Mexico to West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Burritos, West Virginia residents know they have tasty West Virginia Hot Dog and Pepperoni Roll to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blue Corn Enchiladas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Morel Mushrooms of West Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like Frontier Restaurant, Sadie's of New Mexico, and El Modelo. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Pies & Pints, Country Club Bakery, and Black Bear Burritos.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and West Virginia
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Energy efficiency, Natural light | Historic details, Access to nature |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference energy efficiency and natural light, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and access to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. West Virginia is less walkable than New Mexico.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. West Virginia is less bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- West Virginia housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased by 37% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in West Virginia is 26.66% more affordable than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and West Virginia
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Droughts | Floods, Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88Β°F / 64Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 22Β°F | 41Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 14 inches | 45 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 inches | 33 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 45% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- West Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and droughts in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential floods and storms in West Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 3 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows in West Virginia are 4 degrees warmer than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 31 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and West Virginia
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 4.9% | 6.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.78% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.8% | 6.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Agriculture | Coal Mining, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Modest | Modest |
Poverty | Significant | Notable |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 9% less than in New Mexico
- The COLI in West Virginia will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in WV is 6.5% compared to 4.9% in NM
- The affluence in West Virginia is modest compared to modest in New Mexico
- The poverty level is notable in West Virginia compared to significant in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Mexico and low in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. West Virginia
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Conservative across most regions |
Religion | Catholic, Protestant, Other | Protestant, Other |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as Protestant
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic, Protestant, and Other
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to West Virginia
Comparison | New Mexico | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University Eastern New Mexico University | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Desert Willow Family School (Albuquerque) Double Eagle Elementary School (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary School (Santa Fe) | North Elementary School (Morgantown) Steenrod Elementary School (Wheeling) Eastwood Elementary School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Tony Hillerman Middle School (Albuquerque) | Winfield Middle School (Winfield) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) Mountaineer Middle School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Arrowhead Park Early College High School (Las Cruces) | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School (Albuquerque) The Menaul School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Waldorf School (Santa Fe) | Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Artesia Public Schools Hobbs Municipal Schools | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Harrison County Schools |
How Much Do New Mexico to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,536 miles from New Mexico to West 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,073 | 300 ft3 | $6.91 |
1 Bedroom | $3,087 | 450 ft3 | $6.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,108 | 750 ft3 | $6.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,437 | 1100 ft3 | $6.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,738 | 1600 ft3 | $6.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,990 | 1800 ft3 | $6.66 |
Top New Mexico to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.