Virginia to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,640 mile interstate move from Virginia to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild climate), food & health (like Ham vs Marionberry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and Virginia BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Marionberry Pie & Smoked Salmon
- Oregon housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Oregon is 3.54% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Oregon will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Oregon movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Oregon
- High humidity
- Traffic congestion
- Hurricane risk
- Limited outdoor activities
- Mild climate
- Less crowded roads
- Fewer natural disasters
- Abundant outdoor recreation
- Less historical sites
- Far from major cities
- Colder winters
- Longer drive to coast
- Rich history
- Proximity to D.C.
- Warmer winters
- Access to beaches
Pros of moving from Virginia to Oregon
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Oregon with less crowded roads
- Swap the hurricane risk of Virginia for fewer natural disasters in Oregon
- Get ready for abundant outdoor recreation in Oregon
Cons of moving from Virginia to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical sites in Oregon
- 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 warmer winters and get used to colder winters in Oregon
- Swap access to beaches for a longer drive to the coast
Virginia vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Marionberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Virginia BBQ | Smoked Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Peanuts | Food Cart Poutine |
Most popular vegan food | Kale Salads | Tofu Scramble |
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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Marionberry Pie of Oregon. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Virginia BBQ and sumptuous Peanuts, Oregon residents know they have tasty Smoked Salmon and Food Cart Poutine to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Salads they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tofu Scramble of Oregon. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Lemaire Restaurant, and Zynodoa. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, and Voodoo Doughnut.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Oregon
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic details, proximity to Washington D.C. | Eco-friendly features, natural landscapes |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference historic details and proximity to Washington D.C., Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly aspects and natural landscapes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Oregon is less walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Oregon is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Oregon has an equally urban feel to Virginia.
- Oregon housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Oregon is 3.54% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Oregon
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 81/51 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 47/33 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14" | 31" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Oregon. Oregon gets 8% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Oregon 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 wildfires and earthquakes in Oregon.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 5 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Oregon are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Oregon. Oregon receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Oregon
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 9.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 1.07% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Government | Technology, Forestry, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 12% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Oregon will be 14% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in OR is 9.9% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Oregon is moderate compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and high in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Oregon
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, battleground state | Liberal, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varies by region, conservative in rural areas | Liberal in cities, conservative in rural east |
Religion | Christian-majority, diverse religious communities | Less religiously affiliated, diverse spiritual communities |
- Virginia tends to lean moderately liberal in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as liberal, especially in urban areas
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and diverse spiritual communities
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian-majority and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Oregon
Comparison | Virginia | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech George Mason University | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary School (Vienna) Nottingham Elementary School (Arlington) | Ainsworth Elementary School (Portland) Findley Elementary School (Portland) Jackson Elementary School (Hillsboro) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) Henley Middle School (Crozet) | Stoller Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High School (Lake Oswego) Cedar Park Middle School (Beaverton) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | International School of Beaverton (Beaverton) School of Science & Technology (Portland) Corbett School (Corbett) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) St. Christopher's School (Richmond) | Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Catlin Gabel School (Portland) The Delphian School (Sheridan) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Collegiate School (Norfolk) | Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Delphian School (Sheridan) |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District West Linn-Wilsonville School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 2,640 miles from Virginia to Oregon will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,699 | 300 ft3 | $9.00 |
1 Bedroom | $4,026 | 450 ft3 | $8.95 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,673 | 750 ft3 | $8.90 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,732 | 1100 ft3 | $8.85 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,076 | 1600 ft3 | $8.80 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,745 | 1800 ft3 | $8.75 |
Top Virginia to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.