West Virginia to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,073 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rugged terrain vs vast open plains), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs BBQ Brisket), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs ranch, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Brisket & Smoked Ribs
- Kansas housing costs are 39% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Kansas is 9.82% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Kansas will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Kansas movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
West Virginia to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Kansas
- Rugged terrain
- Heavy rainfall
- Limited job market
- High poverty rates
- Long winters
- Vast open plains
- Drier climate
- Growing economy
- Lower poverty rates
- Milder winters
- Flat landscapes
- Fewer historic sites
- Sparser population density
- Less seasonal change
- Fewer mining jobs
- Scenic mountains
- Rich cultural history
- Close-knit communities
- Vibrant fall foliage
- Coal industry presence
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Kansas
- Say goodbye to rugged terrain and hello to vast open plains
- Look forward to moving away from heavy rainfall and moving to Kansas with a drier climate
- Swap the limited job market of West Virginia for a growing economy in Kansas
- Get ready for lower poverty rates in Kansas
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic mountains in West Virginia to live with flat landscapes in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural history and have to settle with the con of fewer historic sites
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to a sparser population density in Kansas
- Swap vibrant fall foliage for less seasonal change
West Virginia vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | BBQ Brisket |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | Smoked Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs with Slaw | BBQ Sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Ramp & Potato Soup | Veggie Burger |
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 Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious BBQ Brisket of Kansas. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Hot Dogs with Slaw, Kansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Ribs and BBQ Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Ramp and Potato Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Veggie Burger of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Pepperoni Grill, Tudor's Biscuit World, and Seneca Rocks Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Slap's BBQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Kansas
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Ranch, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, privacy | Large basements, community features |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Bungalow architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and privacy, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like large basements and community amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kansas is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kansas is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Kansas has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Kansas housing costs are 39% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Kansas is 9.82% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Kansas
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 91/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/21 | 42/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 28 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Kansas. Kansas gets 40% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Kansas has lower 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 severe storms in Kansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 6 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 17 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Kansas
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.0 - 6.5 | 3.1 - 5.7 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57 | 1.35 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0 | 6.50 |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Agriculture, Aircraft Manufacturing, Energy |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 27% more than those in West Virginia
- The COLI in Kansas will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in Kansas is 3.1 to 5.7 compared to 3.0 to 6.5 in West Virginia
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in West Virginia
- The poverty level is lower in Kansas compared to higher in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and moderate in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Kansas
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mostly conservative | Lean conservative, with progressive pockets |
Local Politics | Strong focus on energy policies | Agricultural and educational policies carry weight |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with Baptist predominance | Primarily Christian, varied denominations with significant Catholic presence |
- West Virginia tends to lean mostly conservative in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning conservative with progressive pockets
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with varied denominations and a significant Catholic presence
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian with a Baptist predominance
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Kansas
Comparison | West Virginia | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Sunnyside Elementary (Charleston) George Washington Elementary (Eleanor) Woodsdale Elementary (Wheeling) | Claflin Elementary (Claflin) Meadowlark Ridge Elementary (Salina) Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountaineer Middle (Morgantown) Suncrest Middle (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle (Bridgeport) | Leawood Middle (Leawood) Lakewood Middle (Overland Park) Indian Hills Middle (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High (Charleston) Morgantown High (Morgantown) Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Lawrence Free State High (Lawrence) |
Top 3 private high schools | Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Mercer Christian Academy (Princeton) Wood County Christian School (Williamstown) Cross Lanes Christian School (Cross Lanes) | The Independent School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bridgeport School District Morgantown School District Charleston School District | Blue Valley School District (Overland Park) Olathe School District (Olathe) Shawnee Mission School District (Shawnee Mission) |
How Much Do West Virginia to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 1,073 miles from West Virginia to Kansas will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,811 | 300 ft3 | $6.04 |
1 Bedroom | $2,694 | 450 ft3 | $5.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,452 | 750 ft3 | $5.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,475 | 1100 ft3 | $5.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,338 | 1600 ft3 | $5.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,415 | 1800 ft3 | $5.79 |
Top West Virginia to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Country Roads Moving LLC
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Kansas