Washington to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 2,941 mile interstate move from Washington to Rhode Island? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Rhode Island across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunnier days), food & health (like Salmon vs Clam Cakes), real estate & housing (modern, craftsman vs colonial, cottage), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Teriyaki, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Cakes & Stuffies (Stuffed Clams)
- Rhode Island housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Rhode Island is 5.57% more expensive than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Rhode Island will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Rhode Island movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Rhode Island
- Rainy weather
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Higher crime rates
- Sunnier days
- Lower living costs
- Less traffic
- Safer neighborhoods
- Limited hiking trails
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer tech opportunities
- Smaller entertainment scene
- Outdoor activities
- Diverse culture
- Advanced tech jobs
- Vibrant music scene
Pros of moving from Washington to Rhode Island
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to sunnier days
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Rhode Island with lower living costs
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for less traffic in Rhode Island
- Get ready for safer neighborhoods in Rhode Island
Cons of moving from Washington to Rhode Island
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from outdoor activities in Washington to live with limited hiking trails in Rhode Island
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to advanced tech jobs and get used to fewer tech opportunities in Rhode Island
- Swap the vibrant music scene for a smaller entertainment scene
Washington vs. Rhode Island: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Clam Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Teriyaki | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Del's Lemonade |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowls | Vegan Deli Sandwiches |
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 Rhode Island, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Clam Cakes of Rhode Island. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Teriyaki and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Rhode Island residents know they have tasty Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and Del's Lemonade to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Deli Sandwiches of Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island, don't wait too long before making your way to Rhode Island's acclaimed eateries like Newport Lobster Shack, Al Forno, and Hemenway's.
When comparing lifestyles, Rhode Island shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Rhode Island, compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Rhode Island.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Rhode Island
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
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 | Eco-friendly features, Large windows | Waterfront views, Historic details |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of Rhode Island.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and large windows, Rhode Island real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and historic details.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Rhode Island is more walkable than Washington.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Rhode Island is more bike-friendly than Washington.
- Rhode Island has more of an urban feel than Washington.
- Rhode Island housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $451,868 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Rhode Island have increased by 55% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Rhode Island is 5.57% more expensive than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Rhode Island
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°/55Β°F | 82Β°/63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°/36Β°F | 37Β°/23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 33.8" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Rhode Island. Rhode Island gets 33% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Rhode Island has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Rhode Island.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Rhode Island is 7 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Rhode Island are 13 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Rhode Island. Rhode Island receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Rhode Island
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $81,854 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 123.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.75% - 5.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 1.35% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Rhode Island tend to earn about 10% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Rhode Island will be 18% higher than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to RI, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.75% - 5.99%
- The affluence in Rhode Island is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Rhode Island compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Washington and moderate in Rhode Island
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Rhode Island
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democrat-leaning | Democrat-leaning |
Local Politics | Progressive on several issues | Mixed, with some conservative enclaves |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher Catholic presence |
- Washington tends to lean democrat-leaning in its political climate
- Rhode Island, on the other hand, is often described as democrat-leaning
- Rhode Island's religious environment can be described as having a higher Catholic presence
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Rhode Island
Comparison | Washington | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | Brown University University of Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade K-8 (Shoreline) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) Discovery Primary School (Gig Harbor) | Rockwell Elementary (Bristol) Nayatt School (Barrington) Community School (Cumberland) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Olympia) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) | Barrington Middle School (Barrington) Wickford Middle School (North Kingstown) Cole Middle School (East Greenwich) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport Senior High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) The Bush School (Seattle) Lakeside School (Seattle) | Moses Brown School (Providence) St. George's School (Middletown) Wheeler School (Providence) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | Lincoln School (Providence) Providence Country Day School (East Providence) Rocky Hill Country Day School (East Greenwich) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District Mercer Island School District | Barrington School District East Greenwich School District Cumberland School District |
How Much Do Washington to Rhode Island Movers Cost?
Moving 2,941 miles from Washington to Rhode Island 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: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,870 | 300 ft3 | $9.57 |
1 Bedroom | $4,282 | 450 ft3 | $9.52 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,100 | 750 ft3 | $9.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,358 | 1100 ft3 | $9.42 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,986 | 1600 ft3 | $9.37 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,769 | 1800 ft3 | $9.32 |
Top Washington to Rhode Island Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Rhode Island movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Rhode Island