Virginia to West Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 239 mile interstate move from Virginia to West Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs West Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dense populations vs quieter environments), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Pepperoni Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, 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 Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Pepperoni Roll & Country Ham Steak
- West Virginia housing costs are 58% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in West Virginia is 45.42% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to West Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to West Virginia movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to West Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to West Virginia
- Dense populations
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Urban sprawl
- Busy lifestyle
- Quieter environments
- Lower housing costs
- Less traffic
- Scenic landscapes
- Slower pace
- Fewer jobs
- Limited diversity
- More isolated
- Smaller towns
- Fewer restaurants
- Job opportunities
- Cultural amenities
- Proximity to D.C.
- Vibrant cities
- Diverse cuisine
Pros of moving from Virginia to West Virginia
- Say goodbye to dense populations and hello to quieter environments
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to West Virginia with lower housing costs
- Swap the traffic congestion of Virginia for less traffic in West Virginia
- Get ready for scenic landscapes in West Virginia
Cons of moving from Virginia to West Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from job opportunities in Virginia to live with fewer jobs in West Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural amenities and have to settle for the con of limited diversity
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to D.C. and get used to being more isolated in West Virginia
- Swap vibrant cities for smaller towns
Virginia vs. West Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Pepperoni Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue | Country Ham Steak |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks: Tacos | Hot Dogs with Chili Sauce |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Black Bean Burgers |
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 West Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue and sumptuous Food Trucks: Tacos, West Virginia residents know they have tasty Country Ham Steak and Hot Dogs with Chili Sauce to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burgers of West Virginia. 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 Cafe, and Mama J's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in West Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to West Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Pies & Pints, Olive Tree CafΓ©, and Black Bear Burritos.
When comparing lifestyles, West Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in West Virginia compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in West Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and West Virginia
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Community amenities, proximity to D.C. | Natural beauty, large lots |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of West Virginia.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference community amenities and proximity to D.C., West Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like natural beauty and large lots.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. West Virginia is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. West Virginia is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- West Virginia has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- West Virginia housing costs are 58% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $161,063 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in West Virginia have increased by 37% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in West Virginia is 45.42% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and West Virginia
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Floods, Landslides |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°/65Β° | 80Β°/60Β° |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°/29Β° | 41Β°/26Β° |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 51" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10"-20" | 33" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to West Virginia. West Virginia gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- West Virginia has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential floods and landslides in West Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in West Virginia is 5 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in West Virginia. West Virginia receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and West Virginia
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $54,329 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 95 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 6.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.65% | 6.39% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Professional Services, Real Estate | Mining, Manufacturing, Health Care |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in West Virginia tend to earn about 37% less than those in Virginia
- The COLI in West Virginia is 2% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in WV is 6.5% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in West Virginia is moderate compared to high in Virginia
- The poverty level is high in West Virginia compared to moderate in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and moderate in West Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. West Virginia
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, recent lean towards blue | Strongly red |
Local Politics | Diverse, urban vs rural divide | Homogeneous, predominantly rural |
Religion | Mixed, with no single dominance | Primarily Christian, with strong Protestant roots |
- Virginia tends to lean swing State, with a recent lean towards blue in its political climate
- West Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as strongly red
- West Virginia's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with strong Protestant roots
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with no single dominance
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to West Virginia
Comparison | Virginia | West Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & Mary | West Virginia University Marshall University Fairmont State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Spring Hill Elementary School (McLean) Stenwood Elementary School (Vienna) | North Elementary School (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) Steenrod Elementary School (Wheeling) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Kilmer Middle School (Vienna) Rocky Run Middle School (Chantilly) | Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Mountaineer Middle School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) | Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) George Washington High School (Charleston) |
Top 3 private high schools | Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Potomac School (McLean) Episcopal High School (Alexandria) | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Episcopal High School (Charleston) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (Suffolk) The Covenant School (Charlottesville) The Madeira School (McLean) | St. Joseph Central Catholic High School (Huntington) Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Kanawha County Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to West Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 239 miles from Virginia to West Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,338 | 300 ft3 | $4.46 |
1 Bedroom | $1,984 | 450 ft3 | $4.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,270 | 750 ft3 | $4.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,741 | 1100 ft3 | $4.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,816 | 1600 ft3 | $4.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,578 | 1800 ft3 | $4.21 |
Top Virginia to West Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to West Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.