Ohio to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 453 mile interstate move from Ohio to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Buckeye candy vs Virginia ham), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs colonial revival, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buckeye candy and Cincinnati chili, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia ham & BBQ (pulled pork)
- Virginia housing costs are 73% more expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Virginia is 26.44% more expensive than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Ohio to Virginia movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Virginia
- Harsh winters
- Limited coastal access
- Fewer national parks
- Milder climate
- Beach proximity
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Higher expenses
- Transient culture
- Traffic congestion
- Cost of living
- Strong community ties
- Local festivals
Pros of moving from Ohio to Virginia
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastal access and moving to Virginia with beach proximity
- Swap the fewer national parks of Ohio for abundant outdoor activities in Virginia
Cons of moving from Ohio to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cost of living in Ohio to live with higher expenses in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of strong community ties and have to settle for the con of a transient culture
- Time to bid farewell to local festivals and get used to traffic congestion in Virginia
Ohio vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buckeye candy | Virginia ham |
Most popular meat dish | Cincinnati chili | BBQ (pulled pork) |
Most popular street food item | Polish Boy sandwich | Chesapeake Bay crab cake |
Most popular vegan food | Jungle Jim's International Market (Global cuisine) | Phoenix Garden (Vietnamese) |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Ohio to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Buckeye candy of Ohio for the equally delicious Virginia ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Cincinnati chili and sumptuous Polish Boy sandwich, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ (pulled pork) and Chesapeake Bay crab cake to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to Jungle Jim's International Market (Global cuisine) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Phoenix Garden (Vietnamese) of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Schmidtβs Sausage Haus, The Pine Club, and Skyway East. 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, Lemaire, and Zynodoa.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Virginia
Comparison | Ohio | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Colonial Revival, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | "Spacious yard", "Near schools" | "Community amenities", "Historic charm" |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference 'spacious yard' and 'near schools', Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like 'community amenities' and 'historic charm'.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Ohio.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Virginia housing costs are 73% more expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Ohioβs $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Virginia is 26.44% more expensive than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Virginia
Comparison | Ohio | 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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Variable | Mostly Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 22Β°F | 47Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 14 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Ohio to Virginia. Virginia gets 16% more sunshine days than Ohio.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Ohio.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Ohio, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Virginia.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 4 degrees warmer than Ohio.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 5 more inches of rain compared to Ohio.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Ohio and Virginia
Comparison | Ohio | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,720 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.85 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 3.5% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.57% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.2% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education | Defense, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Stable | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 31% more than in Ohio
- The COLI in Virginia will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Ohio
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 3.5% in OH
- The affluence in Virginia is varied compared to moderate in Ohio
- The poverty level is lower in Virginia compared to moderate in Ohio
- In terms of homelessness, it is stable in Ohio and increasing in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Virginia
Comparison | Ohio | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, fluctuates between Democrat and Republican | Leans Democratic in recent elections |
Local Politics | Varies widely between urban and rural areas | Moderate preference, with urban areas significantly more liberal |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant, Catholic, non-affiliated | Evangelical Protestant, Catholic, non-affiliated |
- Ohio tends to lean swing state and fluctuates between Democrat and Republican in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic in recent elections
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and non-affiliated
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and non-affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Virginia
Comparison | Ohio | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Kent State University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Granville Elementary in Granville Indian Hill Elementary in Cincinnati Ottawa Hills Elementary in Ottawa Hills | St. Christopher's School in Richmond Arlington Science Focus School in Arlington Lucketts Elementary in Leesburg |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bexley Middle School in Bexley Hudson Middle School in Hudson Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior High in Ottawa Hills | Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church Cooper Middle School in McLean Henley Middle School in Crozet |
Top 3 High Schools | Walnut Hills High in Cincinnati Bexley High in Bexley Solon High in Solon | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria McLean High in McLean Langley High in McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | The Seven Hills School in Cincinnati Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights University School in Hunting Valley | The Potomac School in McLean Norfolk Academy in Norfolk St. Christopher's School in Richmond |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Columbus Academy in Gahanna Western Reserve Academy in Hudson The Seven Hills School in Cincinnati | Thomas Jefferson School in Alexandria The Madeira School in McLean The Potomac School in McLean |
Top 3 School Districts | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Solon City School District Ottawa Hills Local Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Ohio to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 453 miles from Ohio to Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,459 | 300 ft3 | $4.86 |
1 Bedroom | $2,166 | 450 ft3 | $4.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,573 | 750 ft3 | $4.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,186 | 1100 ft3 | $4.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,463 | 1600 ft3 | $4.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,306 | 1800 ft3 | $4.61 |
Top Ohio to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for Ohio to Virginia