Virginia to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 1,613 mile interstate move from Virginia to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high traffic congestion vs less traffic), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Knoephla Soup), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, traditional), 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 Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Knoephla Soup & Bison Steak
- North Dakota housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in North Dakota is 44.24% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to North Dakota movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to North Dakota
- High traffic congestion
- Warmer, humid summers
- Costly living expenses
- Dense population
- Less traffic
- Cooler summer temperatures
- Lower living costs
- Sparse population
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited cuisine variety
- Harsh winters
- Fewer major cities
- Rich historical sites
- Diverse dining options
- Mild winter climate
- Proximity to D.C.
Pros of moving from Virginia to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to high traffic congestion and hello to less traffic
- Look forward to moving away from warmer, humid summers and moving to North Dakota with cooler summer temperatures
- Swap the costly living expenses of Virginia for lower living costs in North Dakota
- Get ready for a sparse population in North Dakota
Cons of moving from Virginia to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich historical sites in Virginia to live with fewer historical sites in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse dining options and have to settle for the con of limited cuisine variety
- Time to bid farewell to a mild winter climate and get used to harsh winters in North Dakota
- Swap proximity to D.C. for fewer major cities
Virginia vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Knoephla Soup |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Pulled Pork Sandwich | Fry Bread Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Lentil Burgers |
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 North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Knoephla Soup of North Dakota. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Pulled Pork Sandwich, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Fry Bread Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Burgers of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like Leon's BBQ, The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint, and Neptune's Park. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, Pirogue Grille, and Meats by John & Wayne.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and North Dakota
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Traditional |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood Floors, Granite Countertops | Spacious Yards, Energy Efficiency |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Traditional architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. North Dakota is less walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. North Dakota is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- North Dakota housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Virginia with a median home price of $253,395 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased 18% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in North Dakota is 44.24% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and North Dakota
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
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, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 82/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 24/-2 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 18 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14 | 51 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- North Dakota 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 floods in North Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 4 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 31 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 26 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and North Dakota
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 1.1% - 2.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 1.01% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% - 7% | 5% - 8.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Defense, Technology | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 16% less than those in Virginia
- The COLI in North Dakota is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in ND is 1.1% - 2.9% compared to 2% - 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in North Dakota is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is low in North Dakota compared to moderate poverty in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Virginia and low in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. North Dakota
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, recently leaning Democratic | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas Republican | Rural state with Republican dominance |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Christian population including Protestant and Catholic | Predominantly Christian, with a significant Lutheran presence |
- Virginia tends to lean swing state, recently leaning Democratic in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, with a significant Lutheran presence
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Christian population including Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to North Dakota
Comparison | Virginia | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary (Vienna) Lucketts Elementary (Leesburg) | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Centennial Elementary (Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | Fargo North High (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Grand Forks Central High School (Grand Forks) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) St. Christopherβs School (Richmond) | Shanley High School (Fargo) Bismarck St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) Flint Hill School (Oakton) | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Grace Lutheran School (Fargo) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public School District West Fargo Public Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,613 miles from Virginia to North Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,117 | 300 ft3 | $7.06 |
1 Bedroom | $3,153 | 450 ft3 | $7.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,217 | 750 ft3 | $6.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,597 | 1100 ft3 | $6.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,970 | 1600 ft3 | $6.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,252 | 1800 ft3 | $6.81 |
Top Virginia to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.