Virginia to North Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 157 mile interstate move from Virginia to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like traffic congestion vs smoother commutes), food & health (like Ham vs Pulled pork BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and Beef Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled pork BBQ & Eastern NC Barbecue
- North Carolina housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in North Carolina is 5.36% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to North Carolina will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to North Carolina movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to North Carolina
- Traffic congestion
- Higher cost of living
- Harsh winters
- Busy metropolitan areas
- Limited beach access
- Smoother commutes
- Affordable housing
- Milder climate
- Quieter towns
- Coastal lifestyle
- Less historical roots
- Fewer job opportunities
- Fewer local colleges
- Less culinary variety
- Limited cultural events
- Rich history
- Established job market
- Renowned universities
- Diverse restaurants
- Vibrant arts scene
Pros of moving from Virginia to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to traffic congestion and hello to smoother commutes
- Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to North Carolina with affordable housing
- Swap the harsh winters of Virginia for a milder climate in North Carolina
- Get ready for quieter towns in North Carolina
Cons of moving from Virginia to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical roots in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of an established job market and have to settle with the con of fewer job opportunities
- Time to bid farewell to renowned universities and get used to fewer local colleges in North Carolina
- Swap diverse restaurants for less culinary variety
Virginia vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Brisket | Eastern NC Barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Peanuts | Hot Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowl | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Carolina, you will be trading the iconic ham of Virginia for the equally delicious pulled pork BBQ of North Carolina. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful beef brisket and sumptuous peanuts, North Carolina residents know they have tasty Eastern NC barbecue and hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the grain bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ jackfruit of North Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Mama J's Kitchen, and Levante's. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Brewery Bhavana, and Chef & the Farmer.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Carolina, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and North Carolina
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Washington D.C., Historic landmarks | Access to national parks, Coastal living |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Colonial architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to Washington D.C. and historic landmarks, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like access to national parks and coastal living.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Carolina is less walkable than Virginia.
- North Carolina is similarly bike-friendly to Virginia.
- North Carolina has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- North Carolina housing costs are 15% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in North Carolina is 5.36% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and North Carolina
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 88/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 50/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10-20 | 5-10 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to North Carolina. North Carolina gets 4% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- North Carolina 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 hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina.
- The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 3 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in North Carolina. North Carolina receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and North Carolina
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 2% to 5.75% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.82% | 0.77% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% to 7% | 6.75% to 7.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Agriculture | Agriculture, Finance, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 21% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in North Carolina will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in NC is 5.25% compared to 2% to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in North Carolina is moderate compared to prosperous in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in North Carolina compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Virginia and moderate in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. North Carolina
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic in recent elections | Swing state, varies by election |
Local Politics | Moderate, with a mix of conservative and liberal areas | Conservative in rural areas, liberal in urban centers |
Religion | Diverse, with Christianity being predominant | Primarily Christian, with notable Baptist and Methodist communities |
- Virginia tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that varies by election
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with notable Baptist and Methodist communities
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with Christianity being predominant
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to North Carolina
Comparison | Virginia | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Nuckols Farm Elementary (Henrico) Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Westbriar Elementary School (Vienna) | Endhaven Elementary (Charlotte) Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Davis Drive Elementary (Cary) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) | Smith Middle School (Chapel Hill) Ligon Middle School (Raleigh) Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Ardrey Kell High School (Charlotte) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) St. Christopher's School (Richmond) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Madeira School (McLean) Collegiate School (Richmond) | Cary Academy (Cary) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) Providence Day School (Charlotte) |
Top 3 School Districts | Loudoun County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 157 miles from Virginia to North Carolina will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,098 | 300 ft3 | $3.66 |
1 Bedroom | $1,628 | 450 ft3 | $3.62 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,681 | 750 ft3 | $3.57 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,885 | 1100 ft3 | $3.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,583 | 1600 ft3 | $3.49 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,204 | 1800 ft3 | $3.45 |
Top Virginia to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.