Washington to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,851 mile interstate move from Washington to Wisconsin? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Wisconsin across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Salmon vs Cheese Curds), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs cape cod 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 Pho, but get your taste buds ready for Cheese Curds & Bratwurst
- Wisconsin housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Wisconsin is 36.59% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Wisconsin will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Wisconsin movers is Elite Movers
Washington to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Wisconsin
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Rainy weather
- High real estate prices
- Earthquake risk
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Clearer seasons
- Affordable housing
- Minimal earthquake risk
- Limited tech jobs
- Less diverse terrain
- Smaller city size
- Humid summers
- More traditional views
- Vibrant tech scene
- Natural beauty
- Culture-rich cities
- Mild summers
- Progressive community
Pros of moving from Washington to Wisconsin
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Wisconsin with less traffic
- Swap the rainy weather of Washington for clearer seasons in Wisconsin
- Get ready for affordable housing in Wisconsin
Cons of moving from Washington to Wisconsin
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant tech scene in Washington to live with limited tech jobs in Wisconsin
- You'll lose out on the pro of natural beauty and have to settle for the con of less diverse terrain
- Time to bid farewell to culture-rich cities and get used to the smaller city size in Wisconsin
- Swap mild summers for humid summers
Washington vs. Wisconsin: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Cheese Curds |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Bratwurst |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Fried Cheese Curds |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Vegetable Pasties |
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 Wisconsin, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Cheese Curds of Wisconsin. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, Wisconsin residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Fried Cheese Curds 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 Vegetable Pasties of Wisconsin. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Salumi. After the boxes are unpacked in Wisconsin, don't wait too long before making your way to Wisconsin's acclaimed eateries like Mader's, Culver's, and The Old Fashioned.
When comparing lifestyles, Wisconsin shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wisconsin compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wisconsin.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Wisconsin
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Cape Cod and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green space, Proximity to tech jobs | Family-friendly, Proximity to natural water bodies |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Ranch architecture typical of Wisconsin.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green space and proximity to tech jobs, Wisconsin real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly amenities and proximity to natural water bodies.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Wisconsin is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Wisconsin is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Wisconsin has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Wisconsin housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Washington with a median home price of $294,909 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Wisconsin have increased by 47% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Wisconsin is 36.59% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Wisconsin
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 82Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 28Β°F / 13Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 34 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 48 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Wisconsin. Wisconsin gets 24% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Wisconsin has similar 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 snowstorms and tornadoes in Wisconsin.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Wisconsin is 7 degrees warmer than Washington.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wisconsin. Wisconsin receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Wisconsin
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $70,996 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 95.65 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.54%-7.65% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5%-10.4% | 5.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Significant | Less notable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wisconsin tend to earn about 22% less than those in Washington
- The COLI in Wisconsin is 8% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to WI, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.54% to 7.65%
- The affluence in Wisconsin is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is higher in Wisconsin compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Washington and less notable in Wisconsin
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Wisconsin
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal-leaning, especially in urban areas | Mixed, with a balance between liberal and conservative areas |
Local Politics | Dominance of Democratic elected officials in major cities | A blend of Democratic and Republican leadership depending on the area |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated population overall | Higher prevalence of religious affiliation, significant Catholic and Lutheran communities |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal-leaning in its political climate
- Wisconsin, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a balance between liberal and conservative areas
- Wisconsin's religious environment can be described as having a higher prevalence of religious affiliation with significant Catholic and Lutheran communities
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a less religiously affiliated population overall
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Wisconsin
Comparison | Washington | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Seattle; Washington State University Pullman; Western Washington University Bellingham | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee; Marquette University Milwaukee |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary Sammamish; Discovery Elementary Gig Harbor; Sunrise Elementary Kent | Swallow Elementary Hartland; Richmond Elementary Appleton; Shorewood Hills Elementary Madison |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School Bellevue; Pine Lake Middle Sammamish; Washington Middle Seattle | Kromrey Middle Middleton; Longfellow Middle Wauwatosa; Lake Shore Middle Mequon |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School Bellevue; Newport High Bellevue; Tesla STEM High Redmond | Whitefish Bay High Whitefish Bay; Middleton High Middleton; Brookfield East High Brookfield |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Seattle Preparatory School Seattle | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee; Marquette University High School Milwaukee; Brookfield Academy Brookfield |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School Redmond; Charles Wright Academy Tacoma; Seattle Academy Seattle | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee; Wayland Academy Beaver Dam; Prairie School Racine |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District Lake Washington School District | Elmbrook School District Mequon-Thiensville School District Whitefish Bay School District |
How Much Do Washington to Wisconsin Movers Cost?
Moving 1,851 miles from Washington to Wisconsin will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Above Average Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,252 | 300 ft3 | $7.51 |
1 Bedroom | $3,355 | 450 ft3 | $7.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,555 | 750 ft3 | $7.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,092 | 1100 ft3 | $7.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,690 | 1600 ft3 | $7.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,061 | 1800 ft3 | $7.26 |
Top Washington to Wisconsin Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Wisconsin movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.