Virginia to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 612 mile interstate move from Virginia to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs milder summer climate), food & health (like Ham vs Bagel with Lox), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs colonial, modern high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and BBQ Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Bagel with Lox & Beef Pastrami Sandwich
- New York housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in New York is 36.51% more expensive than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to New York will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Virginia to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to New York
- Hot, humid summers
- Limited public transit
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer job opportunities
- Milder summer climate
- Extensive public transit
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Diverse job market
- Higher cost of living
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- Harsh winters
- High population density
- Lower cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Mild winters
- Less crowded cities
Pros of moving from Virginia to New York
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a milder summer climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to New York with extensive public transit
- Swap the less cultural diversity of Virginia for a vibrant cultural scene in New York
- Get ready for a diverse job market in New York
Cons of moving from Virginia to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Virginia to live with the higher cost of living in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace of life and have to settle for the con of a faster-paced lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to the harsh winters in New York
- Swap less crowded cities for a high population density
Virginia vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Bagel with Lox |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Pulled Pork | Beef Pastrami Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Virginia Peanuts | Hot Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato Soup | Seitan Roast |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 New York, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Bagel with Lox of New York. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ Pulled Pork and sumptuous Virginia Peanuts, New York residents know they have tasty Beef Pastrami Sandwich and Hot Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Sweet Potato Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Roast of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, LβAuberge Chez Francois, and Mama Jβs Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katzβs Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and New York
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Colonial, Modern High-Rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to public transit, Views |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Modern High-Rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transit and views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Virginia.
- New York housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in New York is 36.51% more expensive than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and New York
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
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, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 82/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 39/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 47.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14 | 25 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to New York. New York gets 9% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- New York 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 hurricanes in New York.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New York is 4 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 3.2 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and New York
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 6.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.30% | 4.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Government | Finance, Healthcare, Media |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 7% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in New York will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in NY is 6.85% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is high in New York compared to moderate in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. New York
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly conservative | Liberal, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varies; rural areas more conservative, urban areas more liberal | Dominantly liberal, with strong Democratic presence in cities |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban areas. | Highly diverse; Christianity leads but with significant Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths' presence. |
- Virginia tends to lean mixed and leans slightly conservative in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal, especially in urban areas
- New York's religious environment can be described as highly diverse; Christianity leads but with significant Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths' presence
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to New York
Comparison | Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Nottingham Elementary School (Arlington) Lucketts Elementary School (Leesburg) | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School - Bronx 1 (Bronx) Anderson School (New York) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Rocky Run Middle School (Chantilly) Henley Middle School (Crozet) | East Side Middle School (New York) New Explorations into Science Technology and Math School (New York) Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Staten Island Technical High School (Staten Island) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School (McLean) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) St. Anne's-Belfield School (Charlottesville) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) | Brearley School (New York) Dalton School (New York) Spence School (New York) |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Great Neck Public Schools Jericho Union Free School District Scarsdale Union Free School District |
How Much Do Virginia to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 612 miles from Virginia to New York will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,317 | 300 ft3 | $4.39 |
1 Bedroom | $1,956 | 450 ft3 | $4.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,229 | 750 ft3 | $4.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,689 | 1100 ft3 | $4.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,752 | 1600 ft3 | $4.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,520 | 1800 ft3 | $4.18 |
Top Virginia to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.