Wisconsin to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 777 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs Pennsylvania across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climates), food & health (like Cheese curds vs Philly cheesesteak), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs colonial and victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cheese curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Philly cheesesteak & Scrapple
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 18.68% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to Pennsylvania movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Wisconsin to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
- Harsh Winters
- Limited Public Transport
- Crowded Events
- Rural Focus
- Milder Climates
- Robust Transit Systems
- Frequent Festivals
- Urban Amenities
- Higher Taxes
- Urban Sprawl
- Faster Pace
- Lesser Dairy Variety
- Low Living Costs
- Natural Scenery
- Friendly Community
- Great Cheese
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climates
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transport and moving to Pennsylvania with robust transit systems
- Swap the crowded events of Wisconsin for frequent festivals in Pennsylvania
- Get ready for urban amenities in Pennsylvania
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from low living costs in Wisconsin to live with higher taxes in Pennsylvania
- You'll lose out on the pro of natural scenery and have to settle for the con of urban sprawl
- Time to bid farewell to friendly community and get used to faster pace in Pennsylvania
- Swap great cheese for lesser dairy variety
Wisconsin vs. Pennsylvania: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese curds | Philly cheesesteak |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Scrapple |
Most popular street food item | Fried cheese curds | Soft pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan cheese options | Vegan cheesesteaks |
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 Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, you will be trading the iconic cheese curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Philly cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful bratwurst and sumptuous fried cheese curds, Pennsylvania residents know they have tasty scrapple and soft pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegan cheese options they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan cheesesteaks of Pennsylvania. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like The Cookery, Mader's, and Lake Park Bistro. After the boxes are unpacked in Pennsylvania, don't wait too long before making your way to Pennsylvania's acclaimed eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Pat's King of Steaks, and Zahav.
When comparing lifestyles, Pennsylvania shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Pennsylvania, compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Pennsylvania.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Colonial and Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakefront Access, Large Yards | Historic Details, Proximity to Public Transit |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Pennsylvania.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference lakefront access and large yards, Pennsylvania real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Pennsylvania is more walkable than Wisconsin.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Pennsylvania is less bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- Pennsylvania has more of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $261,312 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Pennsylvania have increased by 43% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 18.68% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
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 | Severe snowstorms, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Generally good | Varies, urban areas can have poor quality |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48 | 38 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania gets 5% fewer sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- Pennsylvania has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible severe snowstorms and tornadoes in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Pennsylvania.
- The average summer high temperature in Pennsylvania is 3 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania receives 10 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $71,798 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 99.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.0% | 3.07% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 1.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.46% | 6.34% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Pennsylvania tend to earn about 1% more than in Wisconsin
- The COLI in Pennsylvania is 4% higher than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- The state income tax in PA is 3.07% compared to 4.0% in WI
- The affluence in Pennsylvania is moderate compared to moderate in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is moderate in Pennsylvania compared to moderate in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wisconsin and moderate in Pennsylvania
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. Pennsylvania
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Purple, swings between Democrat & Republican | Swing state with a mix of Democratic & Republican areas |
Local Politics | Localized politics vary greatly from urban to rural areas | Similar variance from urban areas like Philadelphia to rural Pennsylvania |
Religion | Christianity predominant, but diverse religious communities | Majority Christian, with a significant presence of other faiths |
- Wisconsin tends to lean purple, swinging between Democrat and Republican in its political climate
- Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a mix of Democratic and Republican areas
- Pennsylvania's religious environment can be described as majority Christian with a significant presence of other faiths
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, but with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
Comparison | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Marquette University Milwaukee University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee | Pennsylvania State University State College University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Temple University Philadelphia |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Swan School Madison Elm Lawn Elementary Middleton Lake View Elementary Madison | Whitemarsh Elementary Lafayette Hill Lower Gwynedd Elementary Ambler Blue Bell Elementary Blue Bell |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kromrey Middle School Middleton Glacier Creek Middle School Cross Plains Hamilton Middle School Madison | Welsh Valley Middle School Narberth Springton Lake Middle School Media Radnor Middle School Wayne |
Top 3 High School Schools | Madison West High School Madison Eau Claire Memorial High School Eau Claire Brookfield Central High School Brookfield | Conestoga High School Berwyn North Allegheny High School Wexford Masterman High School Philadelphia |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee Madison Country Day School Waunakee Brookfield Academy Brookfield | The Haverford School Haverford William Penn Charter School Philadelphia The Baldwin School Bryn Mawr |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee Madison Country Day School Waunakee Brookfield Academy Brookfield | The Haverford School Haverford Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh Gerstell Academy Finksburg |
Top 3 School Districts | Elmbrook School District Brookfield Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Middleton Waunakee Community School District Waunakee | Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Berwyn Radnor Township School District Radnor North Allegheny School District Pittsburgh |
How Much Do Wisconsin to Pennsylvania Movers Cost?
Moving 777 miles from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,643 | 300 ft3 | $5.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,442 | 450 ft3 | $5.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,032 | 750 ft3 | $5.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,859 | 1100 ft3 | $5.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,443 | 1600 ft3 | $5.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,408 | 1800 ft3 | $5.23 |
Top Wisconsin to Pennsylvania Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to Pennsylvania movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Wisconsin to Pennsylvania