Washington to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 2,204 mile interstate move from Washington to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing costs), food & health (like Apple vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs traditional and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Apple and Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Barbecue Ribs
- Arkansas housing costs are 66% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Arkansas is 33.25% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Arkansas will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Arkansas movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Arkansas
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Cloudy weather
- Limited space
- Lower housing costs
- Less congested roads
- Sunnier days
- More open land
- Fewer tech jobs
- Fewer events
- Limited seafood
- Mixed school ratings
- Thriving tech scene
- Rich cultural events
- Local seafood
- Top-notch education
Pros of moving from Washington to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing costs
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Arkansas with less congested roads
- Swap the cloudy weather of Washington for sunnier days in Arkansas
- Get ready for more open land in Arkansas
Cons of moving from Washington to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the thriving tech scene in Washington to live with fewer tech jobs in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural events and have to settle for the con of fewer events
- Time to bid farewell to local seafood and get used to limited seafood in Arkansas
- Swap top-notch education for mixed school ratings
Washington vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Apple | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Salmon | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Tamales |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Black Bean Burger |
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 Washington to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Apple of Washington for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Salmon and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Barbecue Ribs and Tamales to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Salumi. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's BBQ, Southern Food Co., and Doe's Eat Place.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Arkansas
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Traditional and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Energy-efficient appliances, Open floor plan | Spacious backyards, Proximity to nature |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Traditional and Ranch architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference energy-efficient appliances and open floor plans, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Arkansas is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Arkansas is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Arkansas housing costs are 66% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Arkansas is 33.25% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Arkansas
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Tornados, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 92Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 36Β°F | 51Β°F / 32Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 43% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Arkansas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 17 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Arkansas are 4 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas. Arkansas receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Arkansas
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 0-9.9 | 0-6.6 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03 | 0.61 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7 | 9.51 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Prosperous | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Notable | Less visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 39% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Arkansas is 13% lower than what you are used to in Washington
- The state income tax in AR is 0-6.6 compared to 0-9.9 in WA
- The affluence in Arkansas is modest compared to prosperous in Washington
- The poverty level is higher in Arkansas compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in Washington and less visible in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Arkansas
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal-leaning | Conservative-leaning |
Local Politics | Emphasis on environmental policies | Focus on agricultural and rural interests |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal-leaning in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as conservative-leaning
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Arkansas
Comparison | Washington | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Seattle; Washington State University Pullman; Western Washington University Bellingham | University of Arkansas Fayetteville; Arkansas State University Jonesboro; University of Central Arkansas Conway |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascadia Elementary Seattle; Medina Elementary Medina; Challenger Elementary Issaquah | Vandergriff Elementary Fayetteville; Forest Park Elementary Little Rock; Baker Interdistrict Elementary Little Rock |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School Bellevue; Odle Middle School Bellevue; Lakeside Middle School Seattle | Lisa Academy North Middle Sherwood; Fulbright Junior High Bentonville; Woodland Junior High Fayetteville |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School Bellevue; Newport High School Bellevue; Tesla STEM High School Redmond | Haas Hall Academy Bentonville; Little Rock Central High School Little Rock; Bentonville High School Bentonville |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School Redmond; Lakeside School Seattle; The Bush School Seattle | Pulaski Academy Little Rock; Shiloh Christian School Springdale; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School Redmond; Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland; Seattle Academy Seattle | Subiaco Academy Subiaco; Episcopal Collegiate School Little Rock; Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Bellevue; Mercer Island School District Mercer Island; Lake Washington School District Redmond | Bentonville School District Bentonville; Fayetteville School District Fayetteville; Rogers School District Rogers |
How Much Do Washington to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 2,204 miles from Washington to Arkansas will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,452 | 300 ft3 | $8.17 |
1 Bedroom | $3,655 | 450 ft3 | $8.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,055 | 750 ft3 | $8.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,826 | 1100 ft3 | $8.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,757 | 1600 ft3 | $7.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,262 | 1800 ft3 | $7.92 |
Top Washington to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Arkansas