Washington to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 2,378 mile interstate move from Washington to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Salmon vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs colonial and ranch), 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 Barbecue Ribs & Pulled Pork
- Tennessee housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Tennessee is 14.73% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Tennessee movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Tennessee
- High cost of living
- Rainy weather
- Traffic congestion
- High taxes
- Earthquake risk
- Affordable housing
- Mild winters
- Lower traffic
- No state income tax
- Safer environment
- Fewer tech jobs
- Fewer lush landscapes
- Lower education rankings
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited healthcare options
- Tech job opportunities
- Rich evergreen scenery
- Renowned education system
- Innovative culture
- Quality healthcare
Pros of moving from Washington to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from rainy weather and moving to Tennessee with mild winters
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for lower traffic in Tennessee
- Get ready for no state income tax in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Washington to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from tech job opportunities in Washington to live with fewer tech jobs in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich evergreen scenery and have to settle for the con of fewer lush landscapes
- Time to bid farewell to a renowned education system and get used to lower education rankings in Tennessee
- Swap an innovative culture for less cultural diversity
Washington vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Hot Chicken |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Hot Chicken 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 BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. 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 Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Monell's Dining & Catering.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Tennessee
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Colonial and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Eco-friendly features, Views | Large yards, Proximity to amenities |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and views, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and proximity to amenities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Tennessee housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Tennessee is 14.73% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Tennessee
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F/55Β°F | 89Β°F/67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F/37Β°F | 52Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 37% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Tennessee 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 tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 14 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Tennessee are 7 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Tennessee
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 0% (but capital gains tax applies) | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.92% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.17% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Concerning | Less prevalent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 29% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Washington and less prevalent in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies | Traditional values |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Tennessee
Comparison | Washington | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Sunrise Elementary (Kent) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) Clovercroft Elementary (Franklin) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Olympia) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Page Middle School (Franklin) |
Top 3 High Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Camas High School (Camas) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Waldorf School (Seattle) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Webb School (Bell Buckle) Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) Harding Academy (Nashville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District Mercer Island School District | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge City Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 2,378 miles from Washington to Tennessee will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- 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 | $2,551 | 300 ft3 | $8.50 |
1 Bedroom | $3,803 | 450 ft3 | $8.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,302 | 750 ft3 | $8.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,187 | 1100 ft3 | $8.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,283 | 1600 ft3 | $8.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,854 | 1800 ft3 | $8.25 |
Top Washington to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Tennessee