Virginia to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 3,524 mile interstate move from Virginia to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs mild summers), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs log cabin, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Reindeer Sausage
- Alaska housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Alaska is 4.83% more affordable than in Virginia
- Our top recommended Virginia to Alaska movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Alaska
- Hot summers
- High traffic
- Hurricane risk
- Mild summers
- Less crowded roads
- Aurora borealis
- Harsh winters
- Remote locations
- Distance from mainland
- Varied landscapes
- Vibrant culture
- Rich history
Pros of moving from Virginia to Alaska
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from high traffic and moving to Alaska with less crowded roads
- Swap the hurricane risk of Virginia for the Aurora Borealis in Alaska
Cons of moving from Virginia to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from varied landscapes in Virginia to live with harsh winters in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant culture and have to settle for the con of remote locations
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to the distance from the mainland in Alaska
Virginia vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | King Crab Legs |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Seaweed Salad |
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 Virginia to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Alaska residents know they have tasty Reindeer Sausage and King Crab Legs 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 Seaweed Salad of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Mama's Fish House, and Zynodoa. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill, The Sluice Box, and Kincaid's.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Alaska
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Log Cabin, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Community pools, proximity to D.C. | Natural scenery, privacy |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Log Cabin and Ranch architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference community pools and proximity to D.C., Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like natural scenery and privacy.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Alaska is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike because Alaska is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Alaska housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 4.83% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Alaska
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 64Β°F | 60Β°F / 44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 22" (varies widely across regions) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14" | 75" (varies widely across regions) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Alaska. Alaska gets 22% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and storms in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 25 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 39 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 22 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Alaska
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 2%-5.75% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 1.2% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Agriculture | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Fishing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Notable | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 3% more than those in Virginia
- The COLI in Alaska will be 37% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is high compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is low in Alaska compared to moderate poverty in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in Virginia and minimal in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Alaska
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Varies by region; urban areas more liberal | Local issues often revolve around natural resources and Indigenous rights |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a diverse religious landscape | Christianity dominant, alongside indigenous spiritual practices |
- Virginia tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant alongside indigenous spiritual practices
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominant with a diverse religious landscape
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Alaska
Comparison | Virginia | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech Virginia Commonwealth University | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Nottingham Elementary School (Arlington) Westbriar Elementary School (Vienna) | Aurora Elementary (Anchorage) Bayshore Elementary (Anchorage) Watershed Charter School (Fairbanks) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Henley Middle School (Charlottesville) | Mears Middle School (Anchorage) Romig Middle School (Anchorage) Randy Smith Middle School (Fairbanks) |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | West Anchorage High School (Anchorage) South Anchorage High School (Anchorage) Dimond High School (Anchorage) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (Alexandria) | Grace Christian School (Anchorage) Anchorage Christian Schools (Anchorage) Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (Suffolk) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) The Madeira School (McLean) | Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Statewide) Anchorage Waldorf School (Anchorage) Pacific Northern Academy (Anchorage) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Anchorage School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District |
Top Virginia to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.