Virginia to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 1,310 mile interstate move from Virginia to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs mild summers), food & health (like Ham vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and BBQ Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye
- Minnesota housing costs are 14% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Minnesota is 8.95% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Minnesota movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Minnesota
- Humid summers
- Hurricane threat
- Dense traffic
- High state taxes
- Mild summers
- Lower natural disaster risk
- Less crowded roads
- More affordable living
- Fewer historic sites
- Far from major cities
- Harsh winters
- Less cultural diversity
- Historic landmarks
- Proximity to D.C.
- Mild winters
- Rich cultural scene
Pros of moving from Virginia to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane threat and moving to Minnesota with lower natural disaster risk
- Swap the dense traffic of Virginia for less crowded roads in Minnesota
- Get ready for more affordable living in Minnesota
Cons of moving from Virginia to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from historic landmarks in Virginia to live with fewer historic sites in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to D.C. and have to settle for the con of being far from major cities
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to harsh winters in Minnesota
- Swap the rich cultural scene for less cultural diversity
Virginia vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Ribs | Walleye |
Most popular street food item | Peanuts | Juicy Lucy Burger |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Stir Fry | Wild Rice Soup |
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ Ribs and sumptuous Peanuts, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Walleye and Juicy Lucy Burger to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Stir Fry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Rappahannock Oyster Co., and Lee's Fried Chicken and Donuts. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Restaurant Alma.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Minnesota
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic homes, proximity to DC | Lakeside properties, green spaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference historic homes and proximity to DC, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside properties and green spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Minnesota is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Minnesota is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Minnesota has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Minnesota housing costs are 14% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Minnesota is 8.95% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Minnesota
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 23/-6 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10 | 48 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Minnesota 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 blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 3 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 35 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Minnesota
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 5.35% - 9.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 1.15% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.30% | 7.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Service | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderately Affluent | Moderately Affluent |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 4% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Minnesota is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in MN is 5.35% - 9.85% compared to 2% - 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Minnesota is moderately affluent compared to moderately affluent in Virginia
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Virginia and low in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Minnesota
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, recently leaning Democratic | Leans Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Mix of conservative and liberal, depending on the area | Progressive in urban regions, conservative in rural |
Religion | Christianity predominates, diverse religious communities | Largely Christian, significant Lutheran population |
- Virginia tends to lean swing state, recently leaning Democratic in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as largely Christian with a significant Lutheran population
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Minnesota
Comparison | Virginia | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary School (Vienna) Westbriar Elementary School (Vienna) | Deephaven Elementary School (Minnetonka) Hale Elementary School (Minneapolis) Scenic Heights Elementary School (Minnetonka) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) Cooper Middle School (McLean) | Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Twin Oaks Middle School (Prior Lake) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | Edina High School (Edina) Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (Alexandria) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) The Madeira School (McLean) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Minnetonka Public School District Edina Public School District Wayzata Public School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,310 miles from Virginia to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,945 | 300 ft3 | $6.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,895 | 450 ft3 | $6.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,788 | 750 ft3 | $6.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,967 | 1100 ft3 | $6.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,054 | 1600 ft3 | $6.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,221 | 1800 ft3 | $6.23 |
Top Virginia to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.