Texas to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 1,554 mile interstate move from Texas to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Texas vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like intense summer heat vs cooler climate in dc), food & health (like BBQ Brisket vs Half Smoke), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs victorian, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Brisket and Tex-Mex Fajitas, but get your taste buds ready for Half Smoke & Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings
- DC housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Texas
- Rent in DC is 41.74% more expensive than in Texas
- Moving from Texas to DC will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Texas to DC movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Texas to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Texas to DC
- Intense summer heat
- Limited public transit
- Car dependency
- Flat topography
- Cooler climate in DC
- Efficient Metro system
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Scenic landmarks
- Higher cost of living
- Smaller apartments
- Higher pace lifestyle
- Limited green spaces
- Affordable living costs
- Spacious homes
- Friendly communities
- Wide open spaces
Pros of moving from Texas to DC
- Say goodbye to intense summer heat and hello to cooler climate in DC
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to DC with an efficient Metro system
- Swap the car dependency of Texas for walkable neighborhoods in DC
- Get ready for scenic landmarks in DC
Cons of moving from Texas to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living costs in Texas to live with a higher cost of living in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of spacious homes and have to settle for the con of smaller apartments
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to a higher pace lifestyle in DC
- Swap wide open spaces for limited green spaces
Texas vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Brisket | Half Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Tex-Mex Fajitas | Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Food Truck Lobster Rolls |
Most popular vegan food | Tex-Mex Vegan Bowl | Vegan Ethiopian Cuisine |
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 Texas to DC, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Brisket of Texas for the equally delicious Half Smoke of DC. And while the locals in Texas rave about their flavorful Tex-Mex Fajitas and sumptuous Tacos, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings and Food Truck Lobster Rolls to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tex-Mex Vegan Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Ethiopian Cuisine of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Texas eateries like Franklin Barbecue, The Texas Taco Company, and Tex-Mex Curios. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Roses Luxury, and Zaytinya.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Texas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Texas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Texas and DC
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | Victorian, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, pools | Proximity to public transport, historic features |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Texas is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Federal architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Texas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and pools, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transport and historic features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; DC is more walkable than Texas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; DC is more bike-friendly than Texas.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Texas.
- DC housing costs are 104% more expensive than they are in Texas, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Texasβs $304,027.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 45% increase in Texas.
- Rent in DC is 41.74% more expensive than in Texas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Texas and DC
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Blizzards, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Variable | Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94Β°F / 72Β°F | 87Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 36Β°F | 44Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 43 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 15 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Texas to DC. DC gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Texas.
- DC has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Texas.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Texas, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and hurricanes in DC.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 7 degrees colder than in Texas.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in Texas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in DC. DC receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Texas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Texas and DC
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,284 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.1 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4-10% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.8% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.25% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Technology | Government, Education, Professional Services |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Concerning | Prevalent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 40% more than in Texas
- The COLI in DC will be 54% higher than what you are used to living in Texas
- Bummer... By moving from TX to DC, you'll now have a state income tax of 4-10%
- The affluence in DC is high compared to moderate affluence in Texas
- The poverty level is moderate in DC compared to significant poverty in Texas
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Texas and prevalent in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Texas vs. DC
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a conservative lean | Primarily Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies, but state-wide elections have tended to favor Republican candidates | Democratically led city council and strong Democratic presence in local elections |
Religion | Christianity is predominant, high Baptist population | Diverse, but less religious overall compared to Texas |
- Texas tends to lean mixed, with a conservative lean in its political climate
- D.C., on the other hand, is often described as primarily Democratic
- D.C.'s religious environment can be described as diverse but less religious overall compared to Texas
- Texas's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity being predominant with a high Baptist population
Education Guide When Moving from Texas to DC
Comparison | Texas | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Texas at Austin Texas A&M University University of Houston | Georgetown University George Washington University Howard University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | William B Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Tagged (Dallas) T.H. Rogers School (Houston) Westbrook Intermediate (Clear Lake) | BASIS DC Janney Elementary School Mann Elementary School |
Top 3 Middle Schools | William B Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Tagged (Dallas) Lanier Middle School (Houston) St. Mark's School of Texas (Dallas) | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School BASIS DC |
Top 3 High School Schools | The School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas) The School of Science and Engineering (Dallas) Liberal Arts and Science Academy (Austin) | School Without Walls High School Benjamin Banneker Academic High School McKinley Technology High School |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Mark's School of Texas (Dallas) The Hockaday School (Dallas) St. John's School (Houston) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Village School (Houston) Greenhill School (Dallas) Trinity Valley School (Fort Worth) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School |
Top 3 School Districts | Eanes Independent School District Highland Park Independent School District Carroll Independent School District | District of Columbia Public Schools inspired by individualized and innovative learning models |
How Much Do Texas to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 1,554 miles from Texas to DC will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: New Braunfels Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,083 | 300 ft3 | $6.94 |
1 Bedroom | $3,103 | 450 ft3 | $6.89 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,134 | 750 ft3 | $6.84 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,474 | 1100 ft3 | $6.79 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,792 | 1600 ft3 | $6.74 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,051 | 1800 ft3 | $6.69 |
Top Texas to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Texas to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Best moving company overall for Texas to DC