Utah to West Virginia Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated June 14, 2025
Planning a 1,873 mile interstate move from Utah to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Fry Sauce vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (ranch, contemporary vs cape cod, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fry Sauce and Utah Scones, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Country Ham
- West Virginia housing costs are 69% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in West Virginia is 40.68% more affordable than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to West Virginia will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Utah to West Virginia movers is 801 Moving Company

Top Utah to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

801 Moving Company
Best moving company overall for Utah to West Virginia

Best of Utah Moving Company

Country Roads Moving LLC
Utah to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to West Virginia
- High cost of living
- Limited green landscapes
- Arid climate
- Urban traffic
- Crowded recreation spots
- Lower cost of living
- Lush, forested areas
- More rainfall
- Less congestion
- Quieter natural sites
- Fewer national parks
- Limited winter sports
- Less urbanization
- Fewer restaurants
- Limited tech opportunities
- Beautiful national parks
- Skiing and winter sports
- Vibrant city life
- Variety of dining options
- Tech industry jobs
Pros of moving from Utah to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from limited green landscapes and moving to West Virginia with lush, forested areas
- Swap the arid climate of Utah for more rainfall in West Virginia
- Get ready for less congestion in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Utah to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful national parks in Utah to live with fewer national parks in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of skiing and winter sports and have to settle for the con of limited winter sports
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant city life and get used to less urbanization in West Virginia
- Swap the variety of dining options for fewer restaurants
Utah vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fry Sauce | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scones | Country Ham |
Most popular street food item | Navajo Taco | Hot Dogs with Sauce |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Bowl | Vegan Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Utah to West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Fry Sauce of Utah for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scones and sumptuous Navajo Taco, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Country Ham and Hot Dogs with Sauce to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Bowl 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 Utah eateries like The Copper Onion, Red Iguana, and Hell's Backbone Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Tudor's Biscuit World, The Country Club Bakery, and Pies & Pints.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia, compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and West Virginia
Comparison | Utah | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Contemporary | Cape Cod, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Outdoor recreation | Historical charm, Nature access |
- The Ranch and Contemporary architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Colonial architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and outdoor recreation, West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historical charm and access to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; West Virginia is less walkable than Utah.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; West Virginia is less bike-friendly than Utah.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than Utah.
- West Virginia housing costs are 69% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased 37% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in West Virginia is 40.68% more affordable than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and West Virginia
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Droughts, wildfires | Floods, landslides |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 20Β°F | 42Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 46" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56" | 33" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 31% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- West Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible droughts and wildfires in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential floods and landslides in West Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is the same as in Utah.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 26 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and West Virginia
Comparison | Utah | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 4.95 | 6.5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58 | 0.59 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.1 | 6.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Healthcare, Tourism | Energy, Chemicals, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 39% less than in Utah
- The COLI in West Virginia is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in WV is 6.5 compared to 4.95 in UT
- The affluence in West Virginia is low compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is high in West Virginia compared to low in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and moderate in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Utah | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, Republican-dominated | Historically Democratic, recently Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Local governance often aligns with state-level conservatism | Local governance can vary, with some regions retaining Democratic leanings amidst a state-wide Republican shift |
Religion | Largely LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) | Primarily Protestant Christianity |
- Utah tends to lean conservative and Republican-dominated in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as historically Democratic and recently Republican-leaning
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant Christianity
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to West Virginia
Comparison | Utah | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Salt Lake City Brigham Young University Provo Utah State University Logan | West Virginia University Morgantown Marshall University Huntington Shepherd University Shepherdstown |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary School Salt Lake City Edgemont Elementary School Provo Eastwood Elementary School Salt Lake City | Crab Orchard Elementary School Crab Orchard West Teays Elementary School Scott Depot Anna Jarvis Elementary School Grafton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Albion Middle School Sandy Centerville Junior High School Centerville Canyon View Junior High School Orem | Sunset Middle School Sunset South Middle School Morgantown Harpers Ferry Middle School Harpers Ferry |
Top 3 High Schools | Skyline High School Salt Lake City Brighton High School Cottonwood Heights Park City High School Park City | CABELL Midland High School Ona Morgantown High School Morgantown George Washington High School Charleston |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall Salt Lake City Waterford School Sandy Judge Memorial Catholic High School Salt Lake City | Wheeling Central Catholic High School Wheeling The Linsly School Wheeling Charleston Catholic High School Charleston |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waterford School Sandy Rowland Hall Salt Lake City American Heritage School American Fork | The Linsly School Wheeling Teays Valley Christian School Scott Depot Parkersburg Catholic Schools Parkersburg |
Top 3 School Districts | Salt Lake City School District Canyons School District Park City School District | Berkeley County School District Kanawha County School District Monongalia County School District |
How Much Do Utah to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,873 miles from Utah to West Virginia 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: 4-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,264 | 300 ft3 | $7.55 |
1 Bedroom | $3,374 | 450 ft3 | $7.50 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,586 | 750 ft3 | $7.45 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,138 | 1100 ft3 | $7.40 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,756 | 1600 ft3 | $7.35 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,136 | 1800 ft3 | $7.30 |