New York to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 612 mile interstate move from New York to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Bagel with Lox vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (art deco, brownstone vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Lox and New York Strip Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & BBQ Pulled Pork
- Virginia housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Virginia is 26.75% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended New York to Virginia movers is JP Urban Moving
Top New York to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to Virginia

Metropolis Moving

Flex Moving and Storage
New York to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Virginia
- High living costs
- Noisy urban environment
- Stressful daily commute
- Limited space
- Harsh winters
- Lower cost of living
- Quieter communities
- Shorter commutes
- More spacious living
- Milder winters
- Less nightlife
- Limited theater options
- Fewer international cuisines
- Less cultural diversity
- Slower pace
- Vibrant nightlife
- Broadway shows
- Diverse dining experiences
- Cultural diversity
- 24/7 city life
Pros of moving from New York to Virginia
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to a lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from a noisy urban environment and moving to Virginia with quieter communities
- Swap the stressful daily commute of New York for shorter commutes in Virginia
- Get ready for more spacious living in Virginia
Cons of moving from New York to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant nightlife in New York to live with less nightlife in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of Broadway shows and have to settle for the con of limited theater options
- Time to bid farewell to diverse dining experiences and get used to fewer international cuisines in Virginia
- Swap cultural diversity for less cultural diversity
New York vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Lox | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | New York Strip Steak | BBQ Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 York to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Lox of New York for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful New York Strip Steak and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ Pulled Pork and Soft Shell Crab Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Le Diplomate, and Mama J's Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Virginia, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Virginia
Comparison | New York | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Art Deco, Brownstone | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to subway, Rooftop access | Yard space, Proximity to nature |
- The Art Deco and Brownstone architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and rooftop access, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like yard space and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Virginia is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Virginia is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Virginia has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Virginia housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Virginia is 26.75% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Virginia
Comparison | New York | 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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/62Β°F | 87Β°F/67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F/26Β°F | 48Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 44.3 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8 | 14.7 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Virginia. Virginia gets 8% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Virginia has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in New York, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and earthquakes in Virginia.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 5 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 5.6 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Virginia
Comparison | New York | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 4 - 8.82% | 2 - 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Media, Healthcare | Technology, Government, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 8% more than in New York
- The cost of living index in Virginia will be 6% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in VA is 2 - 5.75% compared to 4 - 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in Virginia is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New York and low in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Virginia
Comparison | New York | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Mixed, Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies | Moderate to conservative policies |
Religion | Diverse religious landscape | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and leans Republican
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a diverse religious landscape
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Virginia
Comparison | New York | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | NYU Cornell University Columbia University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 Ps 77 Lower Lab School Anderson School (all in NYC) | St. Christopher's School Richmond; Nuckols Farm Elementary Henrico; Arlington Science Focus School Arlington |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Anderson School NYC Lab Middle School East Side Middle School (all in NYC) | Longfellow Middle School McLean; George H. Moody Middle School Henrico; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School Bronx High School of Science Brooklyn Technical High School (all in NYC) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; McLean High School McLean; Langley High School McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | The Chapin School The Brearley School Horace Mann School (all in NYC) | The Madeira School McLean; The Potomac School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Spence School Collegiate School Trinity School (all in NYC) | The Potomac School McLean; St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School Alexandria; Norfolk Academy Norfolk |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck Scarsdale Jericho | Falls Church City Loudoun County Fairfax County |
How Much Do New York to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 612 miles from New York to Virginia 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: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,317 | 300 ft3 | $4.39 |
1 Bedroom | $1,956 | 450 ft3 | $4.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,229 | 750 ft3 | $4.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,689 | 1100 ft3 | $4.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,752 | 1600 ft3 | $4.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,520 | 1800 ft3 | $4.18 |