Tennessee to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 538 mile interstate move from Tennessee to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs milder weather), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs cape cod, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Tennessee), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Country Ham
- West Virginia housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in West Virginia is 40.57% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to West Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to West Virginia movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to West Virginia
- Humid summers
- Traffic congestion
- Cost of living
- Urban sprawl
- Limited outdoor activities
- Milder weather
- Quieter roads
- More affordable
- Scenic landscapes
- Abundant nature trails
- Fewer entertainment options
- Limited restaurant variety
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer job prospects
- Fewer tourist attractions
- Vibrant music scene
- Delicious Southern cuisine
- Diverse culture
- Economic opportunities
- Historic landmarks
Pros of moving from Tennessee to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to West Virginia with quieter roads
- Swap the cost of living in Tennessee for something more affordable in West Virginia
- Get ready for scenic landscapes in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Tennessee to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant music scene in Tennessee to live with fewer entertainment options in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of delicious Southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited restaurant variety
- Time to bid farewell to diverse culture and get used to less cultural diversity in West Virginia
- Swap economic opportunities for fewer job prospects
Tennessee vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Country Ham |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Ramps and Morels |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Vegan 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 Tennessee to West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Country Ham and Ramps and Morels 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 Chili of West Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Loveless Cafe, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Husk. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Greenbrier, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and West Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Cape Cod, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, large backyards | Privacy, scenic views |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Ranch architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and large backyards, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like privacy and scenic views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. West Virginia is less walkable than Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. West Virginia is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- West Virginia housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased 37% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in West Virginia is 40.57% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and West Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | West 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 | Floods, Landslides |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 85/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 41/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 45 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 33 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 21% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- West Virginia has higher 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 floods and landslides in West Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 4 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and West Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3-6.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Energy, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 17% less than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in West Virginia will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to WV, you'll now have a state income tax of 3-6.5%
- The affluence in West Virginia is low compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is high in West Virginia compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Tennessee and low in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed, with urban areas leaning liberal and rural areas conservative | Largely conservative, including in many rural and urban areas |
Religion | Predominantly Christian, with a significant Baptist presence | Mostly Christian, high Protestant denominations majority |
- Tennessee tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as mostly Christian with a high majority of Protestant denominations
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to West Virginia
Comparison | Tennessee | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | West Virginia University Marshall University Shepherd University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Avoca Elementary (Bristol) Bluegrass Elementary (Knoxville) | North Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) Jennie Dean Elementary (Manassas) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) West End Middle Prep (Nashville) | Winfield Middle School (Winfield) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Wheeling Park High School (Wheeling) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) The McCallie School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) Wheeling Central Catholic High School (Wheeling) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | St. Joseph Central Catholic High School (Huntington) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Germantown Municipal School District Maryville City Schools | Monongalia County Schools Jefferson County Schools Ohio County Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 538 miles from Tennessee to West Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,507 | 300 ft3 | $5.02 |
1 Bedroom | $2,239 | 450 ft3 | $4.97 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,694 | 750 ft3 | $4.92 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,362 | 1100 ft3 | $4.87 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,720 | 1600 ft3 | $4.82 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,595 | 1800 ft3 | $4.77 |
Top Tennessee to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to West Virginia