Pennsylvania to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 777 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs Wisconsin across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs affordable housing), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Cheese Curds), real estate & housing (colonial vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pittsburgh-Style Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Cheese Curds & Bratwurst
- Wisconsin housing costs are 13% more expensive than those in Pennsylvania
- Rent in Wisconsin is 15.74% more affordable than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to Wisconsin movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Pennsylvania to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin
- High living costs
- Traffic congestion
- Urban pollution
- Harsh winters
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded roads
- Clean air
- Winters are equally harsh
- Less historical depth
- Quieter evenings
- Limited dining options
- Rich history
- Vibrant nightlife
- Diverse cuisine
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Wisconsin with less crowded roads
- Swap the urban pollution of Pennsylvania for clean air in Wisconsin
- Get ready for winters that are equally harsh in Wisconsin
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Pennsylvania to live with less historical depth in Wisconsin
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant nightlife and have to settle for the con of quieter evenings
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cuisine and get used to limited dining options in Wisconsin
Pennsylvania vs. Wisconsin: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Cheese Curds |
Most popular meat dish | Pittsburgh-Style Steak | Bratwurst |
Most popular street food item | Pretzel | Fried Cheese Curds |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Cheesesteak | Vegetarian Chili |
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 Wisconsin, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Cheese Curds of Wisconsin. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pittsburgh-Style Steak and sumptuous Pretzel, Wisconsin residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Fried Cheese Curds 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 Vegetarian Chili of Wisconsin. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Pat's King of Steaks, Geno's Steaks, and Primanti Bros. After the boxes are unpacked in Wisconsin, don't wait too long before making your way to Wisconsin's acclaimed eateries like The Old Fashioned, Mader's, and Culver's.
When comparing lifestyles, Wisconsin shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wisconsin, compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wisconsin.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Spacious yards, lake access |
- The Colonial architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Wisconsin.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Wisconsin real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and lake access.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Wisconsin is less walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Wisconsin is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- Wisconsin has less of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- Wisconsin housing costs are 13% more expensive than those in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $294,909 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Wisconsin have increased by 47% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in Wisconsin is 15.74% more affordable than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
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 | Storms, Floods | Cold Waves, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 82Β°F / 57Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 19Β°F | 28Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 32" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38" | 48" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. Wisconsin gets 5% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- Wisconsin has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible storms and floods in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential cold waves and tornadoes in Wisconsin.
- The average summer high temperature in Wisconsin is 3 degrees colder than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wisconsin. Wisconsin receives 13 fewer inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $70,996 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 95.65 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | 4.00% to 7.65% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.35% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 5.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Average | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Concerning | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wisconsin tend to earn about 1% less than in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in Wisconsin will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in WI is 4.00% to 7.65% compared to 3.07% in PA
- The affluence in Wisconsin is moderate compared to average in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is lower in Wisconsin compared to moderate in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Pennsylvania and manageable in Wisconsin
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. Wisconsin
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, with a mix of urban liberal areas and rural conservative regions | Swing State, known for a strong history of progressive movements as well as conservative rural areas |
Local Politics | Diverse, ranging from the progressive politics of Philadelphia to the conservative leanings of rural areas | Influenced by progressive cities like Madison, with conservative strongholds in the Northern and Western regions |
Religion | Christian majority, Catholic & Protestant, with Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths | Primarily Christian, with a significant Protestant presence and diverse other religious communities |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing State, with a mix of urban liberal areas and rural conservative regions in its political climate
- Wisconsin, on the other hand, is often described as swing State, known for a strong history of progressive movements as well as conservative rural areas
- Wisconsin's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a significant Protestant presence and diverse other religious communities
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, Catholic and Protestant, with Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University | University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Marquette University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Whitemarsh Elementary (Plymouth Meeting) Penn Wynne Elementary (Wynnewood) Bradford Heights Elementary (Downingtown) | Shorewood Hills Elementary (Madison) Swallow School (Hartland) Elm Lawn Elementary (Middleton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Welsh Valley Middle School (Narberth) Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Haverford Middle School (Havertown) | Kromrey Middle School (Middleton) Lake Shore Middle School (Mequon) Whitefish Bay Middle School (Whitefish Bay) |
Top 3 High Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Conestoga Senior High School (Berwyn) Central High School (Philadelphia) | Madison West High School (Madison) Brookfield East High School (Brookfield) Whitefish Bay High School (Whitefish Bay) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School (Haverford) Shady Side Academy (Pittsburgh) Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Marquette University High School (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Waunakee) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) The Hill School (Pottstown) Friends' Central School (Wynnewood) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) The Prairie School (Racine) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District | Mequon-Thiensville School District Elmbrook School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to Wisconsin Movers Cost?
Moving 777 miles from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,643 | 300 ft3 | $5.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,442 | 450 ft3 | $5.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,032 | 750 ft3 | $5.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,859 | 1100 ft3 | $5.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,443 | 1600 ft3 | $5.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,408 | 1800 ft3 | $5.23 |
Top Pennsylvania to Wisconsin Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to Wisconsin movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to Wisconsin