Wisconsin to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 1,850 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Cheese Curds vs Salmon), real estate & housing (craftsman vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Cheese Curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Teriyaki
- Washington housing costs are 100% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in Washington is 57.69% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to Washington movers is Elite Movers
Wisconsin to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to Washington
- Harsh winters
- Limited tech jobs
- Flat landscapes
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Higher property taxes
- Mild winters
- Thriving tech industry
- Scenic mountains
- Ample outdoor adventures
- No income tax
- Expensive cost of living
- Less focus on dairy
- Costly housing market
- Less local cheese
- Fewer agricultural events
- Friendly community
- Rich dairy culture
- Affordable homes
- Great cheese
- Unique farm festivals
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to Washington
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited tech jobs and moving to Washington with a thriving tech industry
- Swap the flat landscapes of Wisconsin for scenic mountains in Washington
- Get ready for ample outdoor adventures in Washington
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a friendly community in Wisconsin to live with an expensive cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich dairy culture and have to settle with the con of less focus on dairy
- Time to bid farewell to affordable homes and get used to a costly housing market in Washington
- Swap great cheese for less local cheese
Wisconsin vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese Curds | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Teriyaki |
Most popular street food item | Fried Cheese Curds | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Beer Cheese Soup (vegan version) | Pho |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Cheese Curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful Bratwurst and sumptuous Fried Cheese Curds, Washington residents know they have tasty Teriyaki and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Beer Cheese Soup (vegan version) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Pho of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wisconsin eateries like The Old Fashioned, Mader's, and Safe House. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and Mamnoon.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and Washington
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakefront property, Large yards | Mountain views, Eco-friendly features |
- The Craftsman architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference lakefront property and large yards, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and eco-friendly attributes.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Wisconsin.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- Washington housing costs are 100% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in Washington is 57.69% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and Washington
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/62Β°F | 75Β°F/55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F/13Β°F | 47Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 16" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Wisconsin to Washington. Washington gets 19% fewer sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 7 degrees cooler than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 23 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and Washington
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 3.54% - 7.65% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 0.92% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.4% | 6.5% - 10.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 29% more than those in Wisconsin
- The COLI in Washington is 9% higher than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is low in Washington compared to moderate poverty in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wisconsin and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. Washington
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state; closely divided | Largely progressive, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Mixed urban/rural political influences | Urban areas heavily influence politics |
Religion | Diverse; with a notable Catholic presence | Diverse, less religious overall compared to the U.S. average |
- Wisconsin tends to lean swing state and is closely divided in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as largely progressive, especially in urban areas
- Washington's religious environment can be described as diverse and less religious overall compared to the U.S. average
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a notable Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to Washington
Comparison | Wisconsin | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Marquette University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Shorewood Hills Elementary Madison; Swallow School Hartland; Onalaska Kindergarten Center Onalaska | Cascade Ridge Elementary Issaquah; Medina Elementary Medina; Challenge Elementary Bellevue |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whitefish Bay Middle Whitefish Bay; Kromrey Middle Middleton; Lake Shore Middle Mequon | International School Bellevue; Odle Middle School Bellevue; Environmental & Adventure School Kirkland |
Top 3 High Schools | Eau Claire Memorial High Eau Claire; Middleton High Middleton; Brookfield East High Brookfield | International School Bellevue; Tesla STEM High School Redmond; Newport Senior High Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee; Marquette University High Milwaukee; Madison Country Day School Waunakee | Lakeside School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Seattle Preparatory School Seattle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Madison Country Day School Waunakee; University Lake School Hartland; Brookfield Academy Brookfield | The Bear Creek School Redmond; Eastside Preparatory School Kirkland; The Bush School Seattle |
Top 3 School Districts | Mequon-Thiensville School District; Elmbrook School District; Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District | Lake Washington School District; Mercer Island School District; Bellevue School District |
How Much Do Wisconsin to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,850 miles from Wisconsin to Washington 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 | $2,251 | 300 ft3 | $7.50 |
1 Bedroom | $3,354 | 450 ft3 | $7.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,553 | 750 ft3 | $7.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,090 | 1100 ft3 | $7.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,687 | 1600 ft3 | $7.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,058 | 1800 ft3 | $7.25 |
Top Wisconsin to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.