West Virginia to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 853 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high poverty rate vs strong job market), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs farmhouse, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Iowa), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and West Virginia Hot Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Iowa is 8.15% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Iowa will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
West Virginia to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Iowa
- High poverty rate
- Limited urban amenities
- Frequent flooding
- Poor road infrastructure
- Strong job market
- More cultural offerings
- Less severe weather
- Better transportation
- Less mountainous
- Colder winters
- Fewer historical sites
- Higher property taxes
- Beautiful landscapes
- Friendly communities
- Rich history
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Iowa
- Say goodbye to high poverty rate and hello to strong job market
- Look forward to moving away from limited urban amenities and moving to Iowa with more cultural offerings
- Swap the frequent flooding of West Virginia for less severe weather in Iowa
- Get ready for better transportation in Iowa
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in West Virginia to live with less mountainous terrain in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in Iowa
- Swap lower cost of living for higher property taxes
West Virginia vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | West Virginia Hot Dog | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Pepperoni Roll | Walking Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Dishes | Vegan Corn Dogs |
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 West Virginia to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful West Virginia Hot Dog and sumptuous Pepperoni Roll, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Walking Taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Corn Dogs of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Purple Fiddle, Tudor's Biscuit World, and Hillbilly Hot Dogs. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Zombie Burger, The Machine Shed Restaurant, and El Bait Shop.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Iowa, compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Iowa
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Farmhouse, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain Views, Privacy | Spacious Yards, Community Spaces |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Farmhouse and Craftsman architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and privacy, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and community spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Iowa is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Iowa has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Iowa housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Iowa is 8.15% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Iowa
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Landslides | Tornados, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 86Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 36 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 48 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Iowa. Iowa gets 24% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to West Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and landslides in West Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Iowa.
- The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 1 degree warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Iowa are 12 degrees colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 9 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Iowa
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 3.0-6.5 | 0.33-8.53 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59 | 1.57 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.25 | 6.94 |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Banking |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 28% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Iowa is 1% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in IA is 0.33-8.53 compared to 3.0-6.5 in WV
- The affluence in Iowa is moderate compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Iowa compared to high in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in West Virginia and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Iowa
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Moderate, Swing State |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on coal and energy policy | Agricultural and education policy lead |
Religion | Primarily Christian with a Protestant majority | Diverse religious landscape, predominantly Christian |
- West Virginia tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a moderate Swing State
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, predominantly Christian
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian with a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Iowa
Comparison | West Virginia | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Weimer Elementary School Steenrod Elementary School Woodsdale Elementary School | Wickham Elementary School Lincoln Elementary School Grant Ragan Elementary School |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle School Bridgeport Middle School Suncrest Middle School | North Central Junior High South East Junior High Ames Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High School Bridgeport High School Morgantown High School | Roosevelt High School Ames High School West High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Parkersburg Catholic High School Charleston Catholic High School Wheeling Central Catholic High School | Dowling Catholic High School Xavier High School Wahlert Catholic High School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Linsly School Notre Dame High School St. Joseph Central Catholic High School | Scattergood Friends School Maharishi School Rivermont Collegiate |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Harrison County Schools Ohio County Schools | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 853 miles from West Virginia to Iowa 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,686 | 300 ft3 | $5.62 |
1 Bedroom | $2,507 | 450 ft3 | $5.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,140 | 750 ft3 | $5.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,017 | 1100 ft3 | $5.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,672 | 1600 ft3 | $5.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,666 | 1800 ft3 | $5.37 |
Top West Virginia to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Iowa