Texas to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,918 mile interstate move from Texas to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Texas vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like unbearable summer heat vs cooler summer temperatures), food & health (like BBQ Brisket vs Seafood Chowder), real estate & housing (ranch vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Brisket and Smoked Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Seafood Chowder & Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 94% more expensive than they are in Texas
- Rent in Washington is 16.46% more expensive than in Texas
- Moving from Texas to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Texas to Washington movers is Phoenix Express Specialty Moving & Delivery
Texas to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Texas to Washington
- Unbearable summer heat
- Humidity
- Lack of lush scenery
- Urban sprawl
- Limited public transit
- Cooler summer temperatures
- Less humidity
- Beautiful greenery
- Compact urban areas
- Extensive public transit
- State income tax
- Higher cost of living
- Limited land space
- Rainy climate
- Quieter evenings
- No state income tax
- Rich cultural diversity
- Expansive land
- Lively music scene
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from Texas to Washington
- Say goodbye to unbearable summer heat and hello to cooler summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from humidity and moving to Washington with less humidity
- Swap the lack of lush scenery of Texas for beautiful greenery in Washington
- Get ready for compact urban areas in Washington
Cons of moving from Texas to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from no state income tax in Texas to live with state income tax in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural diversity and have to settle for the con of higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to expansive land and get used to limited land space in Washington
- Swap a lively music scene for a rainy climate
Texas vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Texas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Brisket | Seafood Chowder |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Ribs | Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Texas Tacos | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad | 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 Texas to Washington, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Brisket of Texas for the equally delicious Seafood Chowder of Washington. And while the locals in Texas rave about their flavorful Smoked Ribs and sumptuous Texas Tacos, Washington residents know they have tasty Salmon and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad 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 Texas eateries like Franklin Barbecue, Killen's Steakhouse, and Cattlemen's Fort Worth Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, and Mamnoon.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Texas. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Texas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Texas and Washington
Comparison | Texas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, swimming pools | Eco-friendly features, proximity to nature |
- The Ranch architecture that Texas is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Texas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and swimming pools, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly options and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Texas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Texas.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Texas.
- Washington housing costs are 94% more expensive than they are in Texas, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Texasβs $304,027.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 45% increase in Texas.
- Rent in Washington is 16.46% more expensive than in Texas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Texas and Washington
Comparison | Texas | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Variable | Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94Β°F/73Β°F | 75Β°F/53Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62Β°F/42Β°F | 47Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 47 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Texas to Washington. Washington gets 35% fewer sunshine days than Texas.
- Washington 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 volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 19 degrees colder than in Texas.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Texas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Texas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Texas and Washington
Comparison | Texas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,284 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.1 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.69% | 1.03% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.20% | 9.29% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Technology, Agriculture | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Prominent |
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Political and Religious Climate in Texas vs. Washington
Comparison | Texas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Leans Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varied, conservative rural areas vs. more liberal urban centers | Progressive policies dominate in urban areas; moderate in rural regions |
Religion | Christianity prominently practiced, with a significant Evangelical presence | Less religious overall, with notable diversity in beliefs and practices |
- Texas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religious overall, with notable diversity in beliefs and practices
- Texas's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as prominently practiced Christianity, with a significant Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Texas to Washington
Comparison | Texas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Texas Texas A&M Texas Tech | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | William B Travis Academy Dallas River Oaks Elementary Houston School of Science and Engineering Dallas | Cascade K-8 Community School Shoreline Brier Elementary School Brier Challenge Elementary Everett |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lanier Middle School Houston Young Womenβs Leadership Academy Fort Worth William B Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted Dallas | International School Bellevue Environmental & Adventure School Kirkland Washington Middle School Seattle |
Top 3 High Schools | School for the Talented and Gifted Dallas School of Science and Engineering Dallas Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin | International School Bellevue Tesla STEM High School Redmond Newport Senior High School Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas The Hockaday School Dallas Greenhill School Addison | Lakeside School Seattle The Overlake School Redmond The Bush School Seattle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The John Cooper School The Woodlands The Village School Houston Trinity Valley School Fort Worth | Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland Seattle Academy Seattle The Bear Creek School Redmond |
Top 3 School Districts | Eanes Independent School District Austin Carroll Independent School District Southlake Coppell Independent School District Coppell | Bellevue School District Bellevue Mercer Island School District Mercer Island Lake Washington School District Redmond |
How Much Do Texas to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,918 miles from Texas to Washington will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- 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 | $2,290 | 300 ft3 | $7.63 |
1 Bedroom | $3,412 | 450 ft3 | $7.58 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,650 | 750 ft3 | $7.53 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,231 | 1100 ft3 | $7.48 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,893 | 1600 ft3 | $7.43 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,289 | 1800 ft3 | $7.38 |
Top Texas to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Texas to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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