Virginia to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,376 mile interstate move from Virginia to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs mild summers), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Idaho Potatoes), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and BBQ Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Idaho Potatoes & Boise River Steelhead Trout
- Idaho housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Idaho is 11.74% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Idaho will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Idaho movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Idaho
- Humid summers
- Higher cost of living
- Busy traffic
- Hurricane risks
- Limited outdoor options
- Mild summers
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Minimal natural disasters
- Expansive nature activities
- Less historical sites
- Less cultural diversity
- Geographically isolated
- Limited dining choices
- Smaller arts community
- Rich history
- Diverse culture
- Proximity to D.C.
- Renowned restaurants
- Lively arts scene
Pros of moving from Virginia to Idaho
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to Idaho with affordable housing
- Swap the busy traffic of Virginia for less congestion in Idaho
- Get ready for minimal natural disasters in Idaho
Cons of moving from Virginia to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical sites in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse culture and have to settle with the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to the proximity to D.C. and get used to being geographically isolated in Idaho
- Swap renowned restaurants for limited dining choices
Virginia vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Idaho Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Pulled Pork | Boise River Steelhead Trout |
Most popular street food item | Peanut Soup | Finger Steaks |
Most popular vegan food | Kale Salad | Wild Morel Mushroom Dish |
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 Idaho, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Idaho Potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ Pulled Pork and sumptuous Peanut Soup, Idaho residents know they have tasty Boise River Steelhead Trout and Finger Steaks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Morel Mushroom Dish of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Lemaire, and Mom's Apple Pie. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like Boise Fry Company, Barbacoa Grill, and Trillium.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Idaho
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, proximity to historical sites | Views, open space |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and proximity to historical sites, Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like views and open space.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Idaho is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Idaho is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Idaho has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Idaho housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased by 69% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Idaho is 11.74% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Idaho
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies widely |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F/66Β°F | 85Β°F/50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F/29Β°F | 34Β°F/16Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 12-24 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14 | 25-300 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Idaho. Idaho gets 2% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Idaho has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho.
- The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 1 degree colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 32 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Idaho
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $72,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 91.5 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 6.93% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 6.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Government, Education | Agriculture, Mining, Tech |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Idaho tend to earn about 15% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Idaho is 5% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in ID is 6.93% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Idaho is low compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Idaho compared to low poverty in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and low in Idaho
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Idaho
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Sways between conservative & liberal | Predominantly conservative |
Local Politics | Competitive across districts | Consistently Republican-dominated |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity dominant, with a strong presence of LDS Church |
- Virginia tends to lean between conservative and liberal in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly conservative
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant with a strong presence of the LDS Church
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Idaho
Comparison | Virginia | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary (Vienna) Lucketts Elementary (Leesburg) | Longfellow Elementary School (Boise) White Pine Elementary (Boise) Roosevelt Elementary (Boise) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Rachel Carson Middle School (Herndon) Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Henley Middle School (Crozet) | North Junior High School (Boise) Lakes Middle School (Coeur d'Alene) Fairmont Junior High School (Boise) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) Langley High School (McLean) McLean High School (McLean) | Boise High School (Boise) Timberline High School (Boise) Coeur d'Alene High School (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School (Richmond) The Potomac School (McLean) Madeira School (McLean) | Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Madeira School (McLean) Collegiate School (Richmond) | Classical Christian Academy (Post Falls) Foothills School of Arts and Sciences (Boise) Riverstone International School (Boise) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Boise School District Blaine County School District Coeur d'Alene School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 2,376 miles from Virginia to Idaho will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,550 | 300 ft3 | $8.50 |
1 Bedroom | $3,802 | 450 ft3 | $8.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,299 | 750 ft3 | $8.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,183 | 1100 ft3 | $8.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,277 | 1600 ft3 | $8.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,847 | 1800 ft3 | $8.25 |
Top Virginia to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.