Virginia to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 801 mile interstate move from Virginia to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler summers), food & health (like Ham vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Cherry Pie & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 38% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Michigan is 20.75% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Virginia to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Michigan
- High humidity
- Dense traffic
- Hurricane threats
- High cost of living
- Cooler summers
- Lesser congestion
- Minimal natural disasters
- Lower cost of living
- Harsh winters
- Lack of beaches
- Fewer job opportunities
- More snowfall
- Rich history
- Beautiful coastlines
- Diverse job market
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from Virginia to Michigan
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from dense traffic and moving to Michigan with lesser congestion
- Swap the hurricane threats of Virginia for minimal natural disasters in Michigan
- Get ready for a lower cost of living in Michigan
Cons of moving from Virginia to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich history in Virginia to live with harsh winters in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful coastlines and have to settle for the con of a lack of beaches
- Time to bid farewell to a diverse job market and get used to fewer job opportunities in Michigan
- Swap mild winters for more snowfall
Virginia vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | Coney Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Tempeh Reuben |
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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Cherry Pie of Michigan. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, Michigan residents know they have tasty Pasties and Coney Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Mama J's Kitchen, and Leaping Lizard Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Delicatessen, Slows Bar BQ, and Bell's Eccentric Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows an equal emphasis on fitness and health consciousness compared to Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Michigan
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Lakeside views, spacious yards |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Bungalow architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside views and spacious yards.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Michigan has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Michigan housing costs are 38% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Michigan is 20.75% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Michigan
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 81/61 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 31/17 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14 | 60+ |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Michigan. Michigan gets 17% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Michigan 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 snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 5 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Michigan
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.82% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Technology, Defence | Automotive, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Comfortable | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Concern |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 22% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Michigan is 6% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to comfortable in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Michigan compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Virginia and a concern in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Michigan
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, diverse political landscape | Swing state, with a mix of urban liberal and rural conservative areas |
Local Politics | Varies greatly between urban, suburban, and rural areas | Strong union presence, particularly in automotive sectors |
Religion | Diverse, with significant Christian majority (Baptist, Methodist) | Diverse, with a large Christian majority, notable Muslim communities |
- Virginia tends to lean moderately liberal in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a mix of urban liberal and rural conservative areas
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as diverse with a large Christian majority and notable Muslim communities
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a significant Christian majority (Baptist and Methodist)
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Michigan
Comparison | Virginia | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School - Arlington Stenwood Elementary - Vienna Nottingham Elementary - Arlington | Bates Elementary - Dexter Spring Mills Elementary - Highland Deerfield Elementary - Novi |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle - Falls Church Frost Middle - Fairfax Cooper Middle - McLean | Stevenson Middle - Westland Boulan Park Middle - Troy Meads Mill Middle - Northville |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology - Alexandria McLean High - McLean Langley High - McLean | International Academy - Bloomfield Hills Troy High - Troy Novi High - Novi |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School - Richmond Norfolk Academy - Norfolk The Potomac School - McLean | Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Roeper School - Birmingham |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Potomac School - McLean Flint Hill School - Oakton Norfolk Academy - Norfolk | Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills Roeper School - Birmingham |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Ann Arbor Public Schools East Grand Rapids Public Schools Birmingham Public Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 801 miles from Virginia to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,657 | 300 ft3 | $5.52 |
1 Bedroom | $2,462 | 450 ft3 | $5.47 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,066 | 750 ft3 | $5.42 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,909 | 1100 ft3 | $5.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,515 | 1600 ft3 | $5.32 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,490 | 1800 ft3 | $5.27 |
Top Virginia to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.