Ohio to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,304 mile interstate move from Ohio to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Ohio vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like unpredictable weather vs mild climate), food & health (like Buckeye Candy vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial and craftsman vs northwest contemporary and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buckeye Candy and Cincinnati Chili, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pacific Northwest Clam Chowder
- Washington housing costs are 165% more expensive than they are in Ohio
- Rent in Washington is 36.20% more expensive than in Ohio
- Moving from Ohio to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Ohio to Washington movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Ohio to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Ohio to Washington
- Unpredictable weather
- Limited nature access
- Flat geography
- Rust Belt economy
- Reliance on cars
- Mild climate
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Stunning mountains
- Thriving tech industry
- Public transportation options
- Higher housing costs
- Rainy weather
- Traffic congestion
- Cloudy skies
- Higher taxes
- Cost of living
- Friendly community
- Rich history
- Diverse seasons
- Local breweries
Pros of moving from Ohio to Washington
- Say goodbye to unpredictable weather and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited nature access and moving to Washington with abundant outdoor activities
- Swap the flat geography of Ohio for stunning mountains in Washington
- Get ready for a thriving tech industry in Washington
Cons of moving from Ohio to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Ohio to live with higher housing costs in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of a friendly community and have to settle with the con of rainy weather
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to traffic congestion in Washington
- Swap diverse seasons for cloudy skies
Ohio vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Ohio | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buckeye Candy | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Cincinnati Chili | Pacific Northwest Clam Chowder |
Most popular street food item | Polish Boy Sandwich | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetarian Chili | Foraged Wild Mushroom Dishes |
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 Ohio to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Buckeye Candy of Ohio for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Ohio rave about their flavorful Cincinnati Chili and sumptuous Polish Boy Sandwich, Washington residents know they have tasty Pacific Northwest Clam Chowder and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Foraged Wild Mushroom Dishes of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Ohio eateries like Schmidtβs Sausage Haus, Slyman's, and Tony's Italian Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herbfarm, and Matt's in the Market.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Ohio. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Ohio. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Ohio and Washington
Comparison | Ohio | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Craftsman | Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards | Energy-efficient appliances |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Ohio is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Ohio's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like energy-efficient appliances.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Ohio.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Ohio.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Ohio.
- Washington housing costs are 165% more expensive than they are in Ohio, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Ohioβs $223,135.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 49% increase in Ohio.
- Rent in Washington is 36.20% more expensive than in Ohio.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Ohio and Washington
Comparison | Ohio | 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 | Tornados, Severe Thunderstorms | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; issues in urban areas |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82/62 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37/22 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28 | 74 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Ohio to Washington. Washington gets 14% fewer sunshine days than Ohio.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Ohio.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Ohio, 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 7 degrees colder than in Ohio.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Ohio.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 1 inch less of rain compared to Ohio.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Ohio and Washington
Comparison | Ohio | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,720 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.85 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | Up to 4.797% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.57% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.17% | 9.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Insurance | Technology, Aviation, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Affluent |
Poverty | Noticeable | Lower |
Homelessness | Less prevalent | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 39% more than in Ohio
- The COLI in Washington will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Ohio
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is affluent compared to moderate in Ohio
- The poverty level is lower in Washington compared to noticeable in Ohio
- In terms of homelessness, it is less prevalent in Ohio and significant in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Ohio vs. Washington
Comparison | Ohio | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, leaning red | Leans blue |
Local Politics | Varies by region | Progressive in urban areas |
Religion | Christian majority | Less religiously affiliated |
- Ohio tends to lean mixed, leaning red in its political climate.
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning blue.
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated.
- Ohio's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority.
Education Guide When Moving from Ohio to Washington
Comparison | Ohio | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Ohio State University University of Cincinnati Kent State University | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ottawa Hills Elementary Ottawa Hills; Indian Hill Elementary Cincinnati; Granville Elementary Granville | Cascade K-8 Community School Shoreline; Bertschi School Seattle; The Bush School Seattle |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior High Ottawa Hills; Indian Hill Middle School Cincinnati; Granville Middle School Granville | Lakeside Middle School Seattle; The Bear Creek School Redmond; Odle Middle School Bellevue |
Top 3 High Schools | Ottawa Hills High School Ottawa Hills; Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati; Bexley High School Bexley | International School Bellevue; Newport High School Bellevue; Mercer Island High School Mercer Island |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawken School Gates Mills; University School Hunting Valley; Western Reserve Academy Hudson | The Overlake School Redmond; Lakeside School Seattle; The Bush School Seattle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Columbus Academy Gahanna; Western Reserve Academy Hudson; Hawken School Gates Mills | The Bush School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Lakeside School Seattle |
Top 3 School Districts | Ottawa Hills Local Schools Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Granville Exempted Village School District | Mercer Island School District Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District |
How Much Do Ohio to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,304 miles from Ohio to Washington will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,509 | 300 ft3 | $8.36 |
1 Bedroom | $3,741 | 450 ft3 | $8.31 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,197 | 750 ft3 | $8.26 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,034 | 1100 ft3 | $8.21 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,060 | 1600 ft3 | $8.16 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,602 | 1800 ft3 | $8.11 |
Top Ohio to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Ohio to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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