Tennessee to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 2,377 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity vs mild climate), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Memphis BBQ and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Cedar Plank Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Washington is 17.28% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Tennessee to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Washington
- Humidity
- Tornado risk
- Limited tech jobs
- Isolation from coast
- Mild climate
- Lower disaster risk
- Thriving tech industry
- Coastal access
- Higher living expenses
- Less friendly locals
- State income tax
- More reserved nightlife
- Low cost of living
- Southern hospitality
- No state income tax
- Nashville nightlife
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Washington
- Say goodbye to humidity and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from tornado risk and moving to Washington with lower disaster risk
- Swap the limited tech jobs of Tennessee for a thriving tech industry in Washington
- Get ready for coastal access in Washington
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Tennessee to live with higher living expenses in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of Southern hospitality and have to settle for the con of less friendly locals
- Time to bid farewell to no state income tax and get used to state income tax in Washington
- Swap Nashville nightlife for a more reserved nightlife
Tennessee vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Cedar Plank Salmon |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Vegan Pho |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, Washington residents know they have tasty Cedar Plank Salmon and Fish Tacos 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 Vegan Pho of Washington. 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 Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and The Herbfarm.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Washington
Comparison | Tennessee | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to nature, eco-friendly features |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and eco-friendly elements.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Washington housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Washington is 17.28% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Washington
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Thunderstorms, Tornadoes | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 55 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Washington. Washington gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible thunderstorms and tornadoes in Tennessee, 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 14 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 15 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Washington
Comparison | Tennessee | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.5% | 8.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
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Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Washington
Comparison | Tennessee | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Majority Republican | Liberal/Majority Democratic |
Local Politics | Focus on local governance, with an emphasis on state rights | Eco-friendly policies, strong focus on public health and safety |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Less religious, diverse religious affiliations |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative/Majority Republican in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Majority Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religious and having diverse religious affiliations
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Washington
Comparison | Tennessee | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Linden Elementary (Oak Ridge) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Sunny Hills Elementary (Sammamish) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Middle Magnet School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Discovery Middle School (Madison) | International Community School (Kirkland) Environmental & Adventure School (Redmond) Tyee Middle School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Lakeside School (Seattle) International School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) Bellevue Christian School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) Harding Academy (Memphis) Battle Ground Academy (Franklin) | Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) The Bush School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Germantown Municipal Schools Oak Ridge City Schools | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,377 miles from Tennessee to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- 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 | $2,550 | 300 ft3 | $8.50 |
1 Bedroom | $3,803 | 450 ft3 | $8.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,300 | 750 ft3 | $8.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,185 | 1100 ft3 | $8.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,280 | 1600 ft3 | $8.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,850 | 1800 ft3 | $8.25 |
Top Tennessee to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Washington