Washington to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 1,197 mile interstate move from Washington to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Salmon vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (craftsman, contemporary vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Grilled Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Buffalo Steaks
- North Dakota housing costs are 57% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in North Dakota is 48.23% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Washington to North Dakota movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to North Dakota
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Rainy climate
- High population density
- Affordable housing
- Low congestion
- More sunshine
- Open spaces
- Fewer urban areas
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited tech opportunities
- Harsh winters
- Vibrant cities
- Diverse culture
- Tech job market
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from Washington to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to North Dakota with low congestion
- Swap the rainy climate of Washington for more sunshine in North Dakota
- Get ready for open spaces in North Dakota
Cons of moving from Washington to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant cities in Washington to live with fewer urban areas in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to the tech job market and get used to limited tech opportunities in North Dakota
- Swap mild winters for harsh winters
Washington vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Buffalo Steaks |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Knoephla Soup |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Lentil Stew |
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 North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Hotdish of North Dakota. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Tacos, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Buffalo Steaks and Knoephla Soup 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 Lentil Stew of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Mamnoon, and The Herbfarm. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, Theodore's Dining Room, and Pitchfork Steak Fondue.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and North Dakota
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Contemporary | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | "Near public transit", "Eco-friendly" | "Spacious backyard", "Quiet neighborhood" |
- The Craftsman and Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference 'near public transit' and 'eco-friendly', North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like 'spacious backyard' and 'quiet neighborhood'.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. North Dakota is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. North Dakota is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- North Dakota housing costs are 57% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased 18% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in North Dakota is 48.23% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and North Dakota
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 36Β°F | 23Β°F / 2Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 18 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 51 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 32% more sunshine days than Washington.
- North Dakota 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 floods and tornadoes in North Dakota.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 10 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 34 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and North Dakota
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 2.9% - 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03% | 0.99% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.17% | 6.85% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 21% less than those in Washington
- The COLI in North Dakota will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to ND, you'll now have a state income tax of 2.9% to 5.75%
- The affluence in North Dakota is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is low in North Dakota compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Washington and low in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. North Dakota
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean liberal | Lean conservative |
Local Politics | Democratic dominance in urban areas | Republican dominance statewide |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant number of unaffiliated | Largely Christian, Protestant majority |
- Washington tends to lean liberal in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as lean conservative
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as largely Christian with a Protestant majority
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant number of unaffiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to North Dakota
Comparison | Washington | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary - Issaquah Medina Elementary - Medina Sunrise Elementary - Kent | Freedom Elementary - West Fargo Liberty Elementary - Bismarck Roosevelt Elementary - Dickinson |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School - Bellevue Pine Lake Middle School - Sammamish Redmond Middle School - Redmond | Ben Franklin Middle School - Fargo Horizon Middle School - Bismarck Discovery Middle School - Fargo |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School - Bellevue Newport High School - Bellevue Tesla STEM High School - Redmond | Century High School - Bismarck Fargo North High School - Fargo Grand Forks Central High School - Grand Forks |
Top 3 private high schools | The Bear Creek School - Redmond The Overlake School - Redmond Eastside Preparatory School - Kirkland | Shanley High School - Fargo St. Mary's Central High School - Bismarck Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School - Redmond The Overlake School - Redmond Seattle Academy - Seattle | Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo Shiloh Christian School - Bismarck Trinity Christian School - Williston |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District Issaquah School District | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools |
How Much Do Washington to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,197 miles from Washington to North Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,881 | 300 ft3 | $6.27 |
1 Bedroom | $2,799 | 450 ft3 | $6.22 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,628 | 750 ft3 | $6.17 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,732 | 1100 ft3 | $6.12 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,713 | 1600 ft3 | $6.07 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,837 | 1800 ft3 | $6.02 |
Top Washington to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to North Dakota