Utah to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,036 mile interstate move from Utah to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dry climate vs lush greenery), food & health (like Fry Sauce vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fry Sauce and Utah Scones, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & Crabcakes
- Virginia housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in Virginia is 8.68% more expensive than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to Virginia will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Utah to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Utah to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to Virginia
- Dry climate
- Isolation
- Limited diversity
- High elevation
- Expensive skiing
- Lush greenery
- Rich history
- Cultural diversity
- Sea level living
- Affordable coastline
- Humid summers
- Higher crime rates
- Flood risk
- Heavy traffic
- Frequent rainfall
- Outdoor recreation
- Low crime rates
- National parks
- Close-knit communities
- Sunny weather
Pros of moving from Utah to Virginia
- Say goodbye to dry climate and hello to lush greenery
- Look forward to moving away from isolation and moving to Virginia with rich history
- Swap the limited diversity of Utah for cultural diversity in Virginia
- Get ready for sea level living in Virginia
Cons of moving from Utah to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from outdoor recreation in Utah to live with humid summers in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of low crime rates and have to settle for the con of higher crime rates
- Time to bid farewell to national parks and get used to flood risk in Virginia
- Swap close-knit communities for heavy traffic
Utah vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fry Sauce | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scones | Crabcakes |
Most popular street food item | Navajo Taco | Oysters |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Utah to Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Fry Sauce of Utah for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scones and sumptuous Navajo Taco, Virginia residents know they have tasty Crabcakes and Oysters to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like Log Haven, Valter's Osteria, and Red Iguana. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Shed BBQ, Lemaire, and Mama 'Zu.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and Virginia
Comparison | Utah | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open floor plans | Historic landmarks, proximity to DC |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open floor plans, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic landmarks and proximity to DC.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Utah.
- Virginia is similarly bike-friendly to Utah.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Utah.
- Virginia housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in Virginia is 8.68% more expensive than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and Virginia
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Wildfires, Earthquakes | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 87Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 22Β°F | 48Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56 | 10-20 (Varies widely across the state) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to Virginia. Virginia gets 9% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and earthquakes in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 2 degrees warmer than in Utah.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 24 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and Virginia
Comparison | Utah | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 2-5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.6% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.2% | 5.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Mining | Government, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 4% less than in Utah
- The COLI in Virginia is 1% higher than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in VA is 2-5.75% compared to 4.95% in UT
- The affluence in Virginia is varied compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to low in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. Virginia
Comparison | Utah | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Moderate, leaning towards liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated state government | Diverse, with recent Democratic lean |
Religion | Largely LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) | Diverse, with no single dominant denomination |
- Utah tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as moderate and leaning towards liberal
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as diverse with no single dominant denomination
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to Virginia
Comparison | Utah | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | A. J. Moss Elementary School - Salt Lake City | Westbriar Elementary School - Vienna |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Foothill School - Orem | Longfellow Middle School - Falls Church |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science - Salt Lake City | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - Alexandria |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City | The Potomac School - McLean |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Madeleine Choir School - Salt Lake City | Norfolk Academy - Norfolk |
Top 3 School Districts | Park City School District | Fairfax County Public Schools |
How Much Do Utah to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 2,036 miles from Utah to Virginia will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,357 | 300 ft3 | $7.86 |
1 Bedroom | $3,513 | 450 ft3 | $7.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,817 | 750 ft3 | $7.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,476 | 1100 ft3 | $7.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,249 | 1600 ft3 | $7.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,690 | 1800 ft3 | $7.61 |
Top Utah to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.