Wisconsin to Virginia Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 914 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like frigid winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Cheese Curds vs Ham), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cheese Curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Ham & BBQ Pulled Pork
- Virginia housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in Virginia is 46.39% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to Virginia movers is ARS Movers

Top Wisconsin to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

ARS Movers
Best moving company overall for Wisconsin to Virginia
A Change of Place Movers

Elite Movers
Wisconsin to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to Virginia
- Frigid winters
- Flat landscape
- Limited job market
- Sparse cultural events
- Milder winters
- Diverse terrain
- Thriving industries
- Rich history and culture
- Higher cost of living
- Higher traffic congestion
- Hurricane threats
- Less brewing diversity
- Friendly communities
- Low crime rates
- Beautiful lakes
- Local craft beer
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to Virginia
- Say goodbye to frigid winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a flat landscape and moving to Virginia with diverse terrain
- Swap the limited job market of Wisconsin for thriving industries in Virginia
- Get ready for rich history and culture in Virginia
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from friendly communities in Wisconsin to live with a higher cost of living in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of low crime rates and have to settle for the con of higher traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to beautiful lakes and get used to hurricane threats in Virginia
- Swap local craft beer for less brewing diversity
Wisconsin vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese Curds | Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | BBQ Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Fried Cheese Curds | Seafood Boil |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Wellington | Black-Eyed Pea Fritters |
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 Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Cheese Curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful Bratwurst and sumptuous Fried Cheese Curds, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ Pulled Pork and Seafood Boil to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Wellington they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black-Eyed Pea Fritters of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like Mader's, The Old Fashioned, and SafeHouse. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like Tarrant's Cafe, Mama J's Kitchen, and Lemaire.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and Virginia
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, proximity to nature | Historic homes, access to amenities |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and proximity to nature, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and access to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Wisconsin.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- Virginia housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in Virginia is 46.39% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and Virginia
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Cold Waves | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 48Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 14" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wisconsin to Virginia. Virginia gets 10% more sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in Virginia.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 5 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and Virginia
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 7.65% | 5.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 0.80% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.43% | 5.30% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Technology, Defense, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 21% more than those in Wisconsin
- The COLI in Virginia will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- The state income tax in VA is 5.75% compared to 7.65% in WI
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate affluence in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is moderate in Virginia compared to low in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wisconsin and moderate in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. Virginia
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Highly competitive swing state; urban areas (Milwaukee, Madison) lean Democratic; many rural and small-town areas lean Republican; split-ticket voting is common. | Shifted from reliably Republican to leaning Democratic in many statewide/federal races; Northern Virginia is strongly Democratic, while many rural/southwestern areas remain Republican; suburbs often decide outcomes. |
Local Politics | Home-rule cities and villages; active county and town boards; school boards are prominent; common issues include property taxes, public schools, road maintenance, agriculture, and outdoor/recreation policy. | Dillon Rule limits local authority; numerous independent cities; county boards and town councils are key; priorities often include schools, transportation, land use, and growth management; HOAs are common in suburbs; regional coordination in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. |
Religion | Predominantly Christian; notable Catholic and Lutheran presence; mainline Protestant congregations are widespread; growing religious diversity in larger metros. | Predominantly Christian with large Baptist and Catholic communities; strong evangelical presence in many rural areas; significant religious diversity in Northern Virginia (including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish communities). |
- Wisconsin tends to lean highly competitive as a swing state and its urban areas, such as Milwaukee and Madison, lean Democratic while many rural and small-town areas lean Republican and split-ticket voting is common in its political climate.
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as having shifted from reliably Republican to leaning Democratic in many statewide and federal races; Northern Virginia is strongly Democratic while many rural and southwestern areas remain Republican and suburbs often decide outcomes.
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with large Baptist and Catholic communities and a strong evangelical presence in many rural areas as well as significant religious diversity in Northern Virginia including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish communities.
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with a notable Catholic and Lutheran presence and mainline Protestant congregations are widespread with growing religious diversity in larger metro areas.
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to Virginia
Comparison | Wisconsin | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison; Marquette University Milwaukee; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee | University of Virginia Charlottesville; Virginia Tech Blacksburg; George Mason University Fairfax |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary Madison; Shorewood Hills Elementary Madison; Elm Lawn Elementary Middleton | Poplar Tree Elementary Chantilly; Nuckols Farm Elementary Glen Allen; Jamestown Elementary Arlington |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whitefish Bay Middle Whitefish Bay; Hamilton Middle School Madison; Island City Research Academy Cumberland | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; T. Benton Gayle Middle School Fredericksburg; Glasgow Middle School Alexandria |
Top 3 High Schools | Middleton High Middleton; Whitefish Bay High Whitefish Bay; Brookfield East High Brookfield | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; Langley High McLean; McLean High McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee; Wayland Academy Beaver Dam; Brookfield Academy Brookfield | Episcopal High School Alexandria; St. Catherine's School Richmond; The Potomac School McLean |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brookfield Academy Brookfield; University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee; The Prairie School Wind Point | Sidwell Friends School McLean; St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Alexandria; Collegiate School Richmond |
Top 3 School Districts | Whitefish Bay School District Whitefish Bay; Elmbrook School District Brookfield; Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Middleton | Fairfax County Public Schools Falls Church; Loudoun County Public Schools Ashburn; Arlington Public Schools Arlington |
How Much Do Wisconsin to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 914 miles from Wisconsin to Virginia 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,721 | 300 ft3 | $5.74 |
1 Bedroom | $2,558 | 450 ft3 | $5.69 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,227 | 750 ft3 | $5.64 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,144 | 1100 ft3 | $5.59 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,857 | 1600 ft3 | $5.54 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,874 | 1800 ft3 | $5.49 |