Virginia to Mississippi Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 784 mile interstate move from Virginia to Mississippi? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Mississippi across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living costs), food & health (like Ham (specifically Smithfield Ham) vs Catfish), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs antebellum, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham (specifically Smithfield Ham) and Barbecue (BBQ), but get your taste buds ready for Catfish & Fried Chicken
- Mississippi housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Mississippi is 25.20% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Mississippi will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Mississippi movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Mississippi Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Mississippi
- High cost of living
- Cold winters
- Heavy traffic
- Higher taxes
- Urban sprawl
- Lower living costs
- Milder winters
- Less congestion
- Lower taxes
- Rural charm
- Fewer job options
- Less diversity
- Fewer beaches
- Fewer historic sites
- Less varied terrain
- Strong job market
- Cultural diversity
- Access to beaches
- Rich history
- Varied landscapes
Pros of moving from Virginia to Mississippi
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from cold winters and moving to Mississippi with milder winters
- Swap the heavy traffic of Virginia for less congestion in Mississippi
- Get ready for lower taxes in Mississippi
Cons of moving from Virginia to Mississippi
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the strong job market in Virginia to live with fewer job options in Mississippi
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural diversity and have to settle with the con of less diversity
- Time to bid farewell to access to beaches and get used to fewer beaches in Mississippi
- Swap rich history for fewer historic sites
Virginia vs. Mississippi: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham (specifically Smithfield Ham) | Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue (BBQ) | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks offering a variety of cuisines | Tamales |
Most popular vegan food | Garden-to-table dishes | Southern-inspired vegan cuisine |
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 Mississippi, you will be trading the iconic Ham (specifically Smithfield Ham) of Virginia for the equally delicious Catfish of Mississippi. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue (BBQ) and sumptuous Food Trucks offering a variety of cuisines, Mississippi residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Tamales to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Garden-to-table dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Southern-inspired vegan cuisine of Mississippi. 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 Buz and Nedβs Real Barbecue. After the boxes are unpacked in Mississippi, don't wait too long before making your way to Mississippi's acclaimed eateries like The Big Easy, City Grocery, and Weidmann's.
When comparing lifestyles, Mississippi shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Mississippi compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Mississippi.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Mississippi
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Antebellum, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Community amenities, proximity to Washington D.C. | Large lots, privacy |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Antebellum and Ranch architecture typical of Mississippi.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference community amenities and proximity to Washington D.C., Mississippi real estate listings often highlight features like large lots and privacy.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Mississippi is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Mississippi is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Mississippi has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Mississippi housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $178,490 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Mississippi have increased by 31% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Mississippi is 25.20% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Mississippi
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
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, Winter Storms | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 91/72 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 58/37 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 43 | 59 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Mississippi. Mississippi gets 6% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Mississippi has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and winter storms in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Mississippi is 6 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Mississippi. Mississippi receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Mississippi
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $52,719 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 92.1 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 3% - 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.79% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% - 7% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Professional Services, Education | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Utilities |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Mississippi tend to earn about 39% less than those in Virginia
- The COLI in Mississippi will be 5% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in MS is 3% - 5% compared to 2% - 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Mississippi is low compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is high in Mississippi compared to moderate in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and moderate in Mississippi
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Mississippi
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Moderate, with local variances | Conservative, with local variances |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant number of non-religious individuals | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Virginia tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Mississippi, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Mississippi's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with a significant number of non-religious individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Mississippi
Comparison | Virginia | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Longfellow Middle (Falls Church) Nuckols Farm (Henrico) Arlington Science Focus (Arlington) | Madison Station (Madison) Oak Park (Ocean Springs) Anniston Avenue (Gulfport) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle (Falls Church) Cooper Middle (McLean) Frost Middle (Fairfax) | Northwest Rankin Middle (Flowood) Madison Middle (Madison) Bayou View Middle (Gulfport) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High (Alexandria) McLean High (McLean) Langley High (McLean) | Madison Central High (Madison) Ocean Springs High (Ocean Springs) Lewisburg High (Olive Branch) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) St. Anne's-Belfield School (Charlottesville) Collegiate School (Richmond) | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Madeira School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) Seton School (Manassas) | Jackson Academy (Jackson) Heritage Academy (Columbus) St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Loudoun County Arlington County | Madison County Ocean Springs Clinton Public School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Mississippi Movers Cost?
Moving 784 miles from Virginia to Mississippi 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,647 | 300 ft3 | $5.49 |
1 Bedroom | $2,448 | 450 ft3 | $5.44 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,042 | 750 ft3 | $5.39 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,874 | 1100 ft3 | $5.34 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,464 | 1600 ft3 | $5.29 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,432 | 1800 ft3 | $5.24 |
Top Virginia to Mississippi Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Mississippi movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.