Virginia to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 2,730 mile interstate move from Virginia to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs mild temperatures), food & health (like Ham vs Seafood, especially Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs northwest, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Seafood, especially Salmon & Grilled Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Washington is 7.72% more expensive than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Virginia to Washington movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Washington
- Humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Higher property taxes
- Limited tech opportunities
- Mild temperatures
- Lower natural disaster risk
- Efficient public transit
- No personal income tax
- Diverse job market
- Less historical architecture
- No coastal beaches
- Reserved culture
- Limited BBQ options
- Higher living costs
- Rich history
- Beautiful beaches
- Southern hospitality
- Famous for BBQ
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from Virginia to Washington
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to mild temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Washington with lower natural disaster risk
- Swap the traffic congestion of Virginia for efficient public transit in Washington
- Get ready for no personal income tax in Washington
Cons of moving from Virginia to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Virginia to live with less historical architecture in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful beaches and have to settle for the con of no coastal beaches
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to reserved culture in Washington
- Swap famous BBQ for limited BBQ options
Virginia vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Seafood, especially Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ | Grilled Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Kale Salad | Quinoa Salad |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Seafood, especially Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful BBQ and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Washington residents know they have tasty Grilled Salmon and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Le Diplomate, and Pocahontas Pancake. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and Beecher's Handmade Cheese.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Washington
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Northwest, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic charm, spacious yards | Eco-friendly features, mountain views |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Northwest and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference historic charm and spacious yards, Washington's real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly amenities and mountain views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Washington housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Virginia with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Virginia's $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Washington is 7.72% more expensive than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Washington
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14" | 7" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Washington. Washington gets 26% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Washington 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 volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 10 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Washington
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.65% | 6.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Military, Agriculture | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 6% more than those in Virginia
- The COLI in Washington will be 8% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- Hooray, moving to WA means you will no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is low in Washington compared to low poverty in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Virginia and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Washington
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds | Leans more Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Diverse, varies by region | Progressive in major cities |
Religion | Christianity predominant, varied denominations | Less religiously affiliated, diverse faith communities |
- Virginia tends to lean mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning more Democratic, especially in urban areas
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and featuring diverse faith communities
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with varied denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Washington
Comparison | Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Stenwood Elementary (Vienna) Lucketts Elementary (Leesburg) | Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) Clara Barton Elementary (Redmond) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) Henley Middle School (Charlottesville) | International School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Seattle) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Garfield High School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Langley School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) Collegiate School (Richmond) | The Bush School (Seattle) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Virginia to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,730 miles from Virginia to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,750 | 300 ft3 | $9.17 |
1 Bedroom | $4,103 | 450 ft3 | $9.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,800 | 750 ft3 | $9.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,919 | 1100 ft3 | $9.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,348 | 1600 ft3 | $8.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,051 | 1800 ft3 | $8.92 |
Top Virginia to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.