Oregon to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 359 mile interstate move from Oregon to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high state taxes vs no state income tax), food & health (like Marionberry Pie vs Apple Varieties), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs northwest contemporary, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Marionberry Pie and Dungeness Crab, but get your taste buds ready for Apple Varieties & Cedar-planked Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in Washington is 11.67% more expensive than in Oregon
- Moving from Oregon to Washington will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Oregon to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Oregon to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to Washington
- High state taxes
- Fewer tech jobs
- Limited city transit
- Higher housing costs
- No state income tax
- Thriving tech industry
- Better public transit
- More housing options
- Less coastline
- More urban density
- Higher crime rates
- More rain and clouds
- Beautiful coastlines
- Cozy small towns
- Low property crime rates
- Strong wine industry
Pros of moving from Oregon to Washington
- Say goodbye to high state taxes and hello to no state income tax
- Look forward to moving away from fewer tech jobs and moving to Washington with a thriving tech industry
- Swap the limited city transit of Oregon for better public transit in Washington
- Get ready for more housing options in Washington
Cons of moving from Oregon to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful coastlines in Oregon to live with less coastline in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of cozy small towns and have to settle for the con of more urban density
- Time to bid farewell to low property crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in Washington
- Swap a strong wine industry for more rain and clouds
Oregon vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Marionberry Pie | Apple Varieties |
Most popular meat dish | Dungeness Crab | Cedar-planked Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Pok Pok Wings | Seattle Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reuben | Phα» Chay |
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 Oregon to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Marionberry Pie of Oregon for the equally delicious Apple Varieties of Washington. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Dungeness Crab and sumptuous Pok Pok Wings, Washington residents know they have tasty Cedar-planked Salmon and Seattle Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Phα» Chay of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Le Pigeon, Pok Pok, and Tasty n Alder. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Mamnoon, and The Herbfarm.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a lesser emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and Washington
Comparison | Oregon | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Northwest Contemporary, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Eco-friendly, Proximity to nature | Smart home features, Views of nature |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and proximity to nature, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like smart home technology and views of nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Oregon.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Oregon.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Oregon.
- Washington housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in Washington is 11.67% more expensive than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and Washington
Comparison | Oregon | 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 | Floods, Earthquakes | Floods, Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 81/51 | 79/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/33 | 45/35 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4 | 8 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Oregon to Washington. Washington gets 19% fewer sunshine days than Oregon.
- Washington has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes in Washington.
- The average summer high temperature in Washington is 2 degrees colder than in Oregon.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and Washington
Comparison | Oregon | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.75% - 9.9% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.99% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6.5% - 10.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Forestry | Aerospace, Technology, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Notable |
Homelessness | Visible | Chronic |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 21% more than those in Oregon
- The COLI in Washington is 6% lower than what you are used to in Oregon
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have to pay state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Oregon
- The poverty level is notable in Washington compared to significant poverty in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Oregon and chronic in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. Washington
Comparison | Oregon | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal cities, conservative rural areas | Liberal cities, conservative rural areas |
Religion | Mix of religious and non-religious | Mix of religious and non-religious |
- Oregon tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning
- Washington's religious environment can be described as a mix of religious and non-religious
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix of religious and non-religious
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to Washington
Comparison | Oregon | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ainsworth Elementary - Portland Riverdale Grade School - Portland Findley Elementary - Portland | Cascade K-8 Community School - Shoreline Challenge Elementary - Lynnwood Discovery Elementary - Sammamish |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Stoller Middle School - Portland Lake Oswego Junior High - Lake Oswego Cedar Park Middle School - Portland | International Community School - Kirkland Washington Middle School - Olympia Environmental & Adventure School - Redmond |
Top 3 High School Schools | Lake Oswego High School - Lake Oswego Riverdale High School - Portland Corvallis High School - Corvallis | International School - Bellevue Newport Senior High School - Bellevue Bellevue High School - Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | Catlin Gabel School - Portland The OES - Portland St. Mary's Academy - Portland | The Lakeside School - Seattle The Overlake School - Redmond Seattle Academy - Seattle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Delphian School - Sheridan Valley Catholic School - Beaverton Portland Waldorf School - Milwaukie | The Bush School - Seattle Annie Wright Schools - Tacoma Eastside Preparatory School - Kirkland |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District Corvallis School District | Mercer Island School District Bellevue School District Bainbridge Island School District |
How Much Do Oregon to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 359 miles from Oregon to Washington 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: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,406 | 300 ft3 | $4.69 |
1 Bedroom | $2,087 | 450 ft3 | $4.64 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,440 | 750 ft3 | $4.59 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,990 | 1100 ft3 | $4.54 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,179 | 1600 ft3 | $4.49 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,986 | 1800 ft3 | $4.44 |
Top Oregon to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Oregon to Washington