Washington to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 2,947 mile interstate move from Washington to New Hampshire? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs New Hampshire across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Salmon vs Apple Cider Donuts), real estate & housing (modern, craftsman vs colonial, cottage), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Hampshire), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Pho, but get your taste buds ready for Apple Cider Donuts & Boiled Dinner
- New Hampshire housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in New Hampshire is 0.20% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to New Hampshire will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Washington to New Hampshire movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to New Hampshire
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Rainy weather
- High tax rates
- More affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Four distinct seasons
- No sales tax
- Fewer tech opportunities
- Less diversity
- Colder winters
- Fewer cultural events
- Tech industry jobs
- Diverse culture
- Abundant nature
- Rich arts scene
Pros of moving from Washington to New Hampshire
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to New Hampshire with less congestion
- Swap the rainy weather of Washington for four distinct seasons in New Hampshire
- Get ready for no sales tax in New Hampshire
Cons of moving from Washington to New Hampshire
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from tech industry jobs in Washington to live with fewer tech opportunities in New Hampshire
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle with the con of less diversity
- Time to bid farewell to abundant nature and get used to colder winters in New Hampshire
- Swap the rich arts scene for fewer cultural events
Washington vs. New Hampshire: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Apple Cider Donuts |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Boiled Dinner |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Lobster Rolls |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Maple Quinoa Bowl |
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 New Hampshire, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Apple Cider Donuts of New Hampshire. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, New Hampshire residents know they have tasty Boiled Dinner and Lobster Rolls to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Maple Quinoa Bowl of New Hampshire. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and Salumi. After the boxes are unpacked in New Hampshire, don't wait too long before making your way to New Hampshire's acclaimed eateries like The Dining Room at The Woodstock Inn, Moat Mountain Smoke House and Brewing Co., and Polish Princess Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, New Hampshire shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Hampshire compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Hampshire.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and New Hampshire
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, Craftsman | Colonial, Cottage |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to tech hubs, Energy-efficient features | Proximity to nature, Historic charm |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of New Hampshire.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to tech hubs and energy-efficient features, New Hampshire real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and historic charm.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as New Hampshire is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike as New Hampshire is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- New Hampshire has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- New Hampshire housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $465,926 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Hampshire have increased by 68% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in New Hampshire is 0.20% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and New Hampshire
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 82Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 35Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to New Hampshire. New Hampshire gets 32% more sunshine days than Washington.
- New Hampshire has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in New Hampshire.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Hampshire is 7 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in New Hampshire are 19 degrees colder than those in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and New Hampshire
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $89,992 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 116.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 2.05% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, E-commerce | Real Estate, Healthcare, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Very Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- The income comparison is favorable.
- The cost of living comparison is reasonable.
- The income tax message indicates lower rates.
- The affluence in Los Angeles is higher compared to the affluence in New York.
- The poverty level is lower in San Francisco compared to the poverty level in Houston.
- In terms of homelessness, it is higher in Seattle and lower in Miami.
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. New Hampshire
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal, Democratic stronghold | Mixed, with a leaning towards libertarian principles |
Local Politics | Dominantly Democratic cities like Seattle | Local politics vary, with both Republican and Democratic strongholds |
Religion | Less religious overall with a diverse range of faiths | More religiously homogenous, predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal, a Democratic stronghold in its political climate
- New Hampshire, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a leaning towards libertarian principles
- New Hampshire's religious environment can be described as more religiously homogenous and predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall with a diverse range of faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to New Hampshire
Comparison | Washington | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) | Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Riddle Brook School (Bedford) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International Community School (Kirkland) Pine Lake Middle School (Sammamish) Islander Middle School (Mercer Island) | Hampton Academy (Hampton) Hollis Brookline Middle School (Hollis) Rye Junior High School (Rye) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Bedford High School (Bedford) Windham High School (Windham) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Academy (Seattle) Bear Creek School (Redmond) | Portsmouth Christian Academy (Dover) Bishop Guertin High School (Nashua) New Hampton School (New Hampton) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mercer Island School District Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District | Bedford School District Windham School District Hanover School District |
How Much Do Washington to New Hampshire Movers Cost?
Moving 2,947 miles from Washington to New Hampshire will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2.5-5.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,873 | 300 ft3 | $9.58 |
1 Bedroom | $4,287 | 450 ft3 | $9.53 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,108 | 750 ft3 | $9.48 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,370 | 1100 ft3 | $9.43 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,004 | 1600 ft3 | $9.38 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,789 | 1800 ft3 | $9.33 |
Top Washington to New Hampshire Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to New Hampshire movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to New Hampshire