Pennsylvania to North Carolina Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated June 13, 2025
Planning a 498 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Pulled Pork BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs craftsman, colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled Pork BBQ & Eastern Carolina BBQ
- North Carolina housing costs are 26% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in North Carolina is 16.73% more expensive than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to North Carolina movers is Pittsburgh Moving

Top Pennsylvania to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to North Carolina

Keystone Moving & Junk Removal, LLC

EverSafe Moving Co.
Pennsylvania to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Industrial landscapes
- Dense urban areas
- Higher cost of living
- Milder climate
- Lower taxes
- Natural beauty
- Spacious living
- More affordable lifestyle
- Far from major hubs
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Limited public transit
- Humid summers
- Developing art culture
- Close to NYC
- Historic sites
- Broad public transit
- Varied seasons
- Rich arts scene
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from high taxes and moving to North Carolina with lower taxes
- Swap the industrial landscapes of Pennsylvania for natural beauty in North Carolina
- Get ready for spacious living in North Carolina
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from close to NYC in Pennsylvania to live far from major hubs in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of historic sites and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to broad public transit and get used to limited public transit in North Carolina
- Swap varied seasons for humid summers
Pennsylvania vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Eastern Carolina BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Cheesesteak | Barbecue Tempeh |
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 Pennsylvania to North Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, North Carolina residents know they have tasty Eastern Carolina BBQ and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Cheesesteak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Barbecue Tempeh of North Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Pat's King of Steaks, Reading Terminal Market, and Zahav. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Cook Out.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in North Carolina compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and North Carolina
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Craftsman, Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Open floor plans, Energy-efficient appliances |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Colonial Revival architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like open floor plans and energy-efficient appliances.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Carolina is less walkable than Pennsylvania.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; North Carolina is less bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- North Carolina has less of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- North Carolina housing costs are 26% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in North Carolina is 16.73% more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and North Carolina
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 89/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37/20 | 50/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. North Carolina gets 19% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- North Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 4 degrees warmer than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in North Carolina. North Carolina receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and North Carolina
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.51% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.98% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Aerospace, Biotechnology, Banking |
Affluence | Moderate | Growing |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 6% less than in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in North Carolina will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in NC is 5.25% compared to 3.07% in PA
- The affluence in North Carolina is growing compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is moderate in North Carolina compared to moderate poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Pennsylvania and manageable in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. North Carolina
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with mixed urban/rural influences | Lean conservative, with varying urban/rural dynamics |
Local Politics | Diverse, with progressive urban areas | Conservative rural areas contrasted by progressive urban centers |
Religion | Christian majority with diverse religious communities | Strong Christian influence, particularly Evangelical |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing state with mixed urban and rural influences in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as lean conservative, with varying urban and rural dynamics
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as having a strong Christian influence, particularly Evangelical
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
Comparison | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University Park; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh; Temple University Philadelphia | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill; North Carolina State University Raleigh; Duke University Durham |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Greenfield Elementary Philadelphia; Cynwyd Elementary Bala Cynwyd; Edgeworth Elementary Edgeworth | Scroggs Elementary Chapel Hill; Morris Grove Elementary Chapel Hill; Estes Hills Elementary Chapel Hill |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Strath Haven Middle School Wallingford; Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School Berwyn; Radnor Middle School Radnor | McDougle Middle School Chapel Hill; Smith Middle School Chapel Hill; Carnage Middle School Raleigh |
Top 3 High School Schools | Downingtown STEM Academy Downingtown; Julia R. Masterman Secondary School Philadelphia; Conestoga Senior High School Berwyn | Cary Academy Cary; Jordan High School Durham; Green Hope High School Cary |
Top 3 private high schools | The Episcopal Academy Newtown Square; The Haverford School Haverford; Germantown Friends School Philadelphia | Durham Academy Durham; Charlotte Country Day School Charlotte; Ravenscroft School Raleigh |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh; Germantown Academy Fort Washington; Westtown School West Chester | Cary Academy Cary; Carolina Friends School Durham; Providence Day School Charlotte |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District; Radnor Township School District; Lower Merion School District | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools; Wake County Public School System; Union County Public Schools |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 498 miles from Pennsylvania to North Carolina 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 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,262 | 300 ft3 | $4.21 |
1 Bedroom | $1,874 | 450 ft3 | $4.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,091 | 750 ft3 | $4.12 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,487 | 1100 ft3 | $4.08 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,459 | 1600 ft3 | $4.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,190 | 1800 ft3 | $3.99 |