Washington to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 2,170 mile interstate move from Washington to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Salmon vs Sugar Cream Pie), real estate & housing (northwest contemporary vs midwestern traditional), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Pho, but get your taste buds ready for Sugar Cream Pie & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Indiana housing costs are 60% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Indiana is 31.56% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Indiana will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Indiana movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Indiana
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Cloudy weather
- Earthquakes
- High taxes
- Lower cost of living
- Less congestion
- More sunny days
- Minimal natural disasters
- Lower taxes
- Lacking mountainous views
- Fewer job opportunities
- Less diverse culture
- Limited cultural events
- Limited public transportation
- Beautiful landscapes
- Diverse job market
- Progressive culture
- Rich arts scene
- Strong public transit
Pros of moving from Washington to Indiana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Indiana with less congestion
- Swap the cloudy weather of Washington for more sunny days in Indiana
- Get ready for minimal natural disasters in Indiana
Cons of moving from Washington to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful landscapes in Washington to live with the lacking mountainous views in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse job market and have to settle for the con of fewer job opportunities
- Time to bid farewell to the progressive culture and get used to the less diverse culture in Indiana
- Swap the rich arts scene for limited cultural events
Washington vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Sugar Cream Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Corn Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Bowl | Veggie Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Sugar Cream Pie of Indiana. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, Indiana residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Corn Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Veggie Burger of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Mamnoon. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Indiana
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Northwest Contemporary | Midwestern Traditional |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green spaces, proximity to tech hubs | Family-friendly neighborhoods, affordability |
- The Northwest Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Midwestern Traditional architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and proximity to tech hubs, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly neighborhoods and affordability.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Indiana is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Indiana is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Indiana has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Indiana housing costs are 60% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Indiana is 31.56% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Indiana
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Earthquakes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Indiana. Indiana gets 22% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Indiana has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Indiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 10 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Indiana
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.2% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 27% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Indiana will be 11% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to IN, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.23%
- The affluence in Indiana is moderate compared to prosperous in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Indiana compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Washington and low in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Indiana
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic-leaning | Conservative/Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Progressive policies, especially in cities like Seattle | More traditional, with a focus on agricultural and manufacturing policies |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated overall | Higher percentage of religious affiliation, predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal/Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican-leaning
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as having a higher percentage of religious affiliation, predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated overall
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Indiana
Comparison | Washington | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Seattle; Washington State University Pullman; Western Washington University Bellingham | Indiana University Bloomington; Purdue University West Lafayette; Ball State University Muncie |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade K-8 Community School Shoreline; Challenge Elementary Everett; Community School Bothell | Signature School Evansville; West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School; Munster High School Munster |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International Community School Kirkland; Environmental & Adventure School Kirkland; Northshore Home School Networks Bothell | Zionsville Community Middle School; West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School; Brownsburg East Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School Bellevue; Newport Senior High School Bellevue; Mercer Island High School Mercer Island | Signature School Evansville; Carmel High School Carmel; West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Seattle Preparatory School Seattle | Culver Academies Culver; Park Tudor School Indianapolis; Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Indianapolis |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School Seattle; Annie Wright Schools Tacoma; Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland | Traders Point Christian Academy Whitestown; International School of Indiana Indianapolis; Heritage Christian School Indianapolis |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District; Lake Washington School District; Mercer Island School District | Carmel Clay Schools; Zionsville Community Schools; West Lafayette Community School Corporation |
How Much Do Washington to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 2,170 miles from Washington to Indiana 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: 2-5.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,433 | 300 ft3 | $8.11 |
1 Bedroom | $3,627 | 450 ft3 | $8.06 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,007 | 750 ft3 | $8.01 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,755 | 1100 ft3 | $7.96 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,654 | 1600 ft3 | $7.91 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,146 | 1800 ft3 | $7.86 |
Top Washington to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Indiana