Virginia to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 567 mile interstate move from Virginia to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living costs), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Sugar Cream Pie), 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 Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Sugar Cream Pie & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Indiana housing costs are 39% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Indiana is 26.27% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Indiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Indiana movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Indiana
- High cost of living
- Dense traffic
- Frequent hurricanes
- Lower living costs
- Less congestion
- Fewer natural disasters
- Limited job opportunities
- Fewer historical sites
- No significant water bodies
- Diverse job market
- Rich history and culture
- Chesapeake Bay access
Pros of moving from Virginia to Indiana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from dense traffic and moving to Indiana with less congestion
- Swap the frequent hurricanes of Virginia for fewer natural disasters in Indiana
Cons of moving from Virginia to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse job market in Virginia to live with limited job opportunities in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and culture and have to settle with the con of fewer historical sites
- Time to bid farewell to Chesapeake Bay access and get used to no significant water bodies in Indiana
Virginia vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Sugar Cream Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Oysters | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowl | Vegan BBQ |
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 Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Sugar Cream Pie of Indiana. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue and sumptuous Oysters, Indiana residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Corn on the Cob to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grain Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan BBQ of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Le Yaca French Restaurant, and Pocahontas Pancake House. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Indiana
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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, granite countertops | Spacious backyards, hardwood floors |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and hardwood floors.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Indiana is less walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Indiana is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Indiana has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Indiana housing costs are 39% less expensive than they are in Virginia with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Indiana is 26.27% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Indiana
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Indiana. Indiana gets 9% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Indiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 2 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Indiana. Indiana receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Indiana
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 5.75 | 3.23 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.82 | 0.87 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3 | 7.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, IT, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Lower | Higher |
Homelessness | Manageable | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 22% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Indiana will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in IN is 3.23 compared to 5.75 in VA
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is higher in Indiana compared to lower in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Virginia and manageable in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Indiana
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed urban & rural influences | More rural conservative influence |
Religion | Diverse | Predominantly Christian |
- Virginia tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Indiana
Comparison | Virginia | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | Indiana University Purdue University University of Notre Dame |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Traditional (Arlington) Stenwood (Vienna) Nottingham (Arlington) | Signature School Inc. (Evansville) Brown Elementary School (Brownsburg) Solon Robinson (Crown Point) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle (Falls Church) Frost Middle (Fairfax) Henley Middle (Crozet) | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) Brown County Junior High (Nashville) Discovery Middle School (Granger) |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High (McLean) Langley High (McLean) | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High School (Carmel) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School (West Lafayette) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School (McLean) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (Alexandria) | Culver Academies (Culver) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Potomac School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Madeira School (McLean) | Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Zionsville Community Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 567 miles from Virginia to Indiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,524 | 300 ft3 | $5.08 |
1 Bedroom | $2,263 | 450 ft3 | $5.03 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,735 | 750 ft3 | $4.98 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,423 | 1100 ft3 | $4.93 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,808 | 1600 ft3 | $4.88 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,694 | 1800 ft3 | $4.83 |
Top Virginia to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.