Virginia to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 2,036 mile interstate move from Virginia to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dense traffic vs less congestion), food & health (like Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab vs Utah Scones), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab and Virginia Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Utah Scones & Funeral Potatoes with Ham
- Utah housing costs are 35% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Utah is 7.99% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Utah will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Utah movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Utah
- Dense traffic
- Humid summers
- High cost of living
- Frequent hurricanes
- Limited skiing
- Less congestion
- Dry climate
- Lower expenses
- Rare severe weather
- World-class skiing
- Less historical sites
- Landlocked
- Fewer urban areas
- Less greenery
- Cold winters
- Rich history
- Close to coast
- Diverse cities
- Seasonal foliage
- Warm winters
Pros of moving from Virginia to Utah
- Say goodbye to dense traffic and hello to less congestion
- Look forward to moving away from humid summers and moving to Utah with a dry climate
- Swap the high cost of living in Virginia for lower expenses in Utah
- Get ready for rare severe weather in Utah
Cons of moving from Virginia to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical sites in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of being close to the coast and have to settle for the con of being landlocked
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cities and get used to fewer urban areas in Utah
- Swap seasonal foliage for less greenery
Virginia vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab | Utah Scones |
Most popular meat dish | Virginia Ham | Funeral Potatoes with Ham |
Most popular street food item | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich | Fry Sauce with French Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetarian Chesapeake Bay Stew | Avocado Toast |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab of Virginia for the equally delicious Utah Scones of Utah. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Virginia Ham and sumptuous Soft Shell Crab Sandwich, Utah residents know they have tasty Funeral Potatoes with Ham and Fry Sauce with French Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Chesapeake Bay Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Shack, Lemaire, and The Inn at Little Washington. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, HSL, and Log Haven.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Utah
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Historic charm | Mountain views, Open floor plans |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and historic charm, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and open floor plans.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Utah is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Utah is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Utah housing costs are 35% more expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Utah is 7.99% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Utah
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, wildfires |
Air Quality | Good to moderate | Variable, often impacted by wildfires |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 66Β°F | 90Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 37Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10-20" | 56" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Utah. Utah gets 16% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Utah has lower 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 earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 4 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Utah are 9 degrees colder than those in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Utah
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 6.1% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Military, Farming | Technology, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Growing |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Stable | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 4% more than in Virginia
- The COLI in Utah is 1% lower than what you are used to in Virginia
- The state income tax in UT is 4.95% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Utah is growing compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate poverty in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is stable in Virginia and increasing in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Utah
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Conservative |
Local Politics | Varies regionally | Predominantly conservative |
Religion | Mixed, with no single majority | Dominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) |
- Virginia tends to lean swing state in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Utah's religious environment can be described as dominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with no single majority
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Utah
Comparison | Virginia | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School Stenwood Elementary Westbriar Elementary | Edgemont Elementary Canyon View Elementary Parkview Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School Frost Middle School Kilmer Middle School | Foothill Middle School Mountain Ridge Junior High Timberline Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology McLean High School Langley High School | Academy for Math Engineering & Science International Baccalaureate Program at West High School Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School The Madeira School Episcopal High School | Rowland Hall Waterford School The Madeleine Choir School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School The Potomac School Norfolk Academy | Rowland Hall Waterford School Layton Christian Academy |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Park City School District Davis School District Canyons School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 2,036 miles from Virginia to Utah will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,357 | 300 ft3 | $7.86 |
1 Bedroom | $3,513 | 450 ft3 | $7.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,817 | 750 ft3 | $7.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,476 | 1100 ft3 | $7.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,249 | 1600 ft3 | $7.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,690 | 1800 ft3 | $7.61 |
Top Virginia to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.