Virginia to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 555 mile interstate move from Virginia to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Memphis BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs victorian, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and Country Ham and Biscuits, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis BBQ & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 18% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Tennessee is 8.15% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Tennessee movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Tennessee
- Higher cost of living
- Harsh winters
- Busy urban centers
- Traffic congestion
- Higher taxes
- Lower cost of living
- Milder winters
- Quieter towns
- Less traffic
- Lower taxes
- Less historic sites
- Less cultural diversity
- Far from D.C.
- Fewer renowned universities
- Smaller job market
- Rich history
- Diverse culture
- Proximity to D.C.
- Famed universities
- Growing job market
Pros of moving from Virginia to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to Tennessee with milder winters
- Swap the busy urban centers of Virginia for the quieter towns in Tennessee
- Get ready for less traffic in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Virginia to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historic sites in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle with the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to the proximity to D.C. and get used to being far from D.C. in Tennessee
- Swap the famed universities for fewer renowned universities
Virginia vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham and Biscuits | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Oysters | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan BBQ Jackfruit | Vegan Soul Food |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Memphis BBQ of Tennessee. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and Biscuits and sumptuous Oysters, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Soul Food of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Leaping Lizard CafΓ©, and Husk Richmond. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and City House.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Large yards, open floor plans |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and open floor plans.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Tennessee housing costs are 18% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Tennessee is 8.15% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 89/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/27 | 49/29 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10-20 | 5-10 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 1% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 4 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 24% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is average compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Virginia and noticeable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal/competitive | Conservative stronghold |
Local Politics | Varies significantly from urban to rural areas | Generally conservative across the state |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religions present | Primarily Christian, with a strong evangelical presence |
- Virginia tends to lean moderately liberal and competitive in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as a conservative stronghold
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a strong evangelical presence
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as dominant Christianity with diverse religions present
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Tennessee
Comparison | Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee Technological University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School Arlington; Stenwood Elementary Vienna; Nottingham Elementary Arlington | Lockeland Elementary Design Center Nashville; Johnson Elementary School Franklin; New Hope Elementary Hendersonville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Frost Middle School Fairfax; Henley Middle School Crozet | Brentwood Middle School Brentwood; Meigs Academic Magnet School Nashville; Houston Middle School Germantown |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; Langley High School McLean; McLean High School McLean | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School Nashville; Central Magnet School Murfreesboro; Brentwood High School Brentwood |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond; Episcopal High School Alexandria | Baylor School Chattanooga; Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville; University School of Nashville Nashville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School Oakton; Collegiate School Richmond; Potomac School McLean | Baylor School Chattanooga; University School of Nashville Nashville; Evangelical Christian School Cordova |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 555 miles from Virginia to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,517 | 300 ft3 | $5.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,253 | 450 ft3 | $5.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,718 | 750 ft3 | $4.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,398 | 1100 ft3 | $4.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,771 | 1600 ft3 | $4.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,653 | 1800 ft3 | $4.81 |
Top Virginia to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.