Washington to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,306 mile interstate move from Washington to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like overcast skies vs sunny weather), food & health (like Salmon vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (craftsman, northwest contemporary vs mountain modern, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Applewood Smoked Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Colorado is 2.79% more expensive than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Washington to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Colorado
- Overcast skies
- Traffic congestion
- High cost of living
- Rainy seasons
- Lack of high-altitude views
- Sunny weather
- Less traffic
- More affordable
- Drier climate
- Mountain vistas
- Less forest area
- Less diverse cities
- Fewer tech opportunities
- No coastlines
- Colder winters
- Lush greenery
- Rich culture
- Thriving tech scene
- Seaside escapes
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from Washington to Colorado
- Say goodbye to overcast skies and hello to sunny weather
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Colorado with less traffic
- Swap the high cost of living in Washington for more affordability in Colorado
- Get ready for a drier climate in Colorado
Cons of moving from Washington to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush greenery in Washington to live with less forest area in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich culture and have to settle for the con of less diverse cities
- Time to bid farewell to a thriving tech scene and get used to fewer tech opportunities in Colorado
- Swap seaside escapes for no coastlines
Washington vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Applewood Smoked Salmon | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Taco Trucks | Green Chile |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Seitan Wings |
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 Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Applewood Smoked Salmon and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chile 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 Seitan Wings of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Matt's in the Market. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Frasca Food and Wine, and Snooze an A.M. Eatery.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Colorado
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Northwest Contemporary | Mountain Modern, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Energy efficiency, green spaces | Mountain views, outdoor accessibility |
- The Craftsman and Northwest Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Modern and Ranch architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference energy efficiency and green spaces, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor accessibility.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Colorado is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Colorado is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Colorado housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Colorado is 2.79% more expensive than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Colorado
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes | Wildfires, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F/50Β°F | 85Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F/36Β°F | 45Β°F/18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4.6 | 60.5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Colorado. Colorado gets 61% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and tornadoes in Colorado.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 10 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Colorado are 18 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 22.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Colorado
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.40% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.92% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.23% | 7.72% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Minimal | Moderate |
Homelessness | Challenging | Steady |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 2% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Colorado is 6% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to CO, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.40%
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to prosperous in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to minimal in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is challenging in Washington and steady in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Colorado
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State, recently leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers, conservative rural areas | Mixed; progressive cities, conservative rural areas |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Moderately religiously affiliated |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, recently leaning Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as moderately religiously affiliated
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Colorado
Comparison | Washington | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Medina Elementary (Medina) Bryant Elementary (Seattle) | Slavens K-8 School (Denver) Cory Elementary School (Denver) Bear Creek Elementary School (Boulder) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Seattle) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) | DSA Denver School of the Arts (Denver) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) Kruse Elementary School (Fort Collins) |
Top 3 High Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Skyline High School (Sammamish) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | Kent Denver School (Englewood) Colorado Academy (Denver) Fountain Valley School of Colorado (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Waldorf School (Seattle) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) | Vail Mountain School (Vail) Aspen Country Day School (Aspen) The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Aspen School District |
How Much Do Washington to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,306 miles from Washington to Colorado will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,943 | 300 ft3 | $6.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,892 | 450 ft3 | $6.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,782 | 750 ft3 | $6.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,959 | 1100 ft3 | $6.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,042 | 1600 ft3 | $6.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,207 | 1800 ft3 | $6.23 |
Top Washington to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Washington to Colorado