Tennessee to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 554 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme heat vs mild summers), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (victorian, farmhouse vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Memphis BBQ and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Smithfield Ham
- Virginia housing costs are 22% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Virginia is 8.87% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Tennessee to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Virginia
- Extreme heat
- High humidity
- Limited public transit
- Urban sprawl
- Allergies to pollen
- Mild summers
- Less humidity
- Robust transit system
- Historic charm
- Fewer allergens
- Higher expenses
- Reserved neighbors
- State income tax
- Less vibrant arts
- Congested areas
- Low cost of living
- Friendly locals
- No state income tax
- Music scene
- Wide-open spaces
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Virginia
- Say goodbye to extreme heat and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to Virginia with less humidity
- Swap the limited public transit of Tennessee for a robust transit system in Virginia
- Get ready for historic charm in Virginia
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Tennessee to live with higher expenses in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly locals and have to settle for the con of reserved neighbors
- Time to bid farewell to no state income tax and get used to state income tax in Virginia
- Swap the music scene for a less vibrant arts scene
Tennessee vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Smithfield Ham |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Oyster Po' Boy |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Chickpea Salad |
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 Tennessee to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Virginia residents know they have tasty Smithfield Ham and Oyster Po' Boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Chickpea Salad of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Rendezvous, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and Loveless Cafe. 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, L'Auberge Chez FranΓ§ois, and Bookbinder's Seafood and Steakhouse.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Farmhouse | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, Proximity to nature | Energy efficiency, Historical features |
- The Victorian and Farmhouse architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and proximity to nature, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and historical aspects.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Virginia housing costs are 22% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Virginia is 8.87% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Tornados, Floods | Hurricanes, Winter storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88/67 | 85/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 47/27 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 10-20 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Virginia. Virginia gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and winter storms in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 3 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 0 | 5.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64 | 0.80 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55 | 5.3 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Technology, Government, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 32% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in Virginia will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to VA, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.75
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to moderate poverty in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Tennessee and low in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Republican | Sways between Republican and Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas, more liberal in cities like Nashville | Liberal in Northern Virginia, conservative in rural areas |
Religion | Strong evangelical Christian presence | Diverse religious landscape with significant Christian and Muslim communities |
- Tennessee tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as swaying between Republican and Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape with significant Christian and Muslim communities
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a strong evangelical Christian presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University University of Memphis | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakeland Elementary School (Lakeland) John P. Freeman Optional School (Memphis) Discovery School (Murfreesboro) | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary School (Vienna) Lucketts Elementary School (Leesburg) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Houston Middle School (Germantown) Meigs Magnet School (Nashville) | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Henry David Thoreau Middle School (Vienna) George H. Moody Middle School (Henrico) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | The Madeira School (McLean) St. Christopherβs School (Richmond) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) The Potomac School (McLean) St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (Alexandria) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Germantown Municipal School District Maryville City Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 554 miles from Tennessee to Virginia will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,517 | 300 ft3 | $5.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,252 | 450 ft3 | $5.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,716 | 750 ft3 | $4.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,396 | 1100 ft3 | $4.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,768 | 1600 ft3 | $4.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,649 | 1800 ft3 | $4.81 |
Top Tennessee to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.