West Virginia to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 261 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rural isolation vs more urban areas), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Hot Brown), real estate & housing (ranch, cape cod vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kentucky), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Brown & Fried Chicken
- Kentucky housing costs are 25% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Kentucky is 31.04% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Kentucky movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
West Virginia to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Kentucky
- Rural isolation
- Limited job market
- Hilly terrain
- Higher poverty rates
- More urban areas
- Diverse job opportunities
- Gentler landscape
- Better economic prospects
- Less historical influence
- Less natural beauty
- Slightly higher expenses
- More transient population
- Rich cultural history
- Scenic landscapes
- Lower cost of living
- Tight-knit communities
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to rural isolation and hello to more urban areas
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Kentucky with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the hilly terrain of West Virginia for a gentler landscape in Kentucky
- Get ready for better economic prospects in Kentucky
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich cultural history in West Virginia to live with less historical influence in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of scenic landscapes and have to settle with the con of less natural beauty
- Time to bid farewell to a lower cost of living and get used to slightly higher expenses in Kentucky
- Swap tight-knit communities for a more transient population
West Virginia vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Hot Brown |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Tudor's Biscuit World Biscuits | BBQ Mutton |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | Kentucky Beer Cheese |
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 Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Hot Brown of Kentucky. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Tudor's Biscuit World Biscuits, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and BBQ Mutton to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Morel Mushrooms they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Kentucky Beer Cheese of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Greenbrier, Black Sheep Burrito and Brews, and Tudor's Biscuit World. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like Mammy's Kitchen, Proof on Main, and Hot Brown at The Brown Hotel.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Kentucky
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Cape Cod | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, private lots | Horse farms, historic homes |
- The Ranch and Cape Cod architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and private lots, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like horse farms and historic homes.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Kentucky is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Kentucky is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Kentucky has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Kentucky housing costs are 25% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Kentucky is 31.04% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Kentucky
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 87Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 44Β°F / 28Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 48" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 22" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 19% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to West Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and storms in West Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 2 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 3 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Kentucky
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 4.5% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 0.86% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Coal, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Notable |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 9% more than those in West Virginia
- The COLI in Kentucky is 8% lower than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in Kentucky is 5% compared to 4.5% in West Virginia
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to moderate affluence in West Virginia
- The poverty level is notable in Kentucky compared to significant poverty in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Kentucky
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed, with emphasis on traditional industries | Mixed, agricultural and urban policies evident |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a strong Protestant presence | Primarily Christian, diverse denominations including Baptist majorities |
- West Virginia tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Conservative
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with diverse denominations including Baptist majorities
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, with a strong Protestant presence
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Kentucky
Comparison | West Virginia | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Stepping Stone Montessori School (Lewisburg) Sunbeam Early Learning Center (Charleston) Explorer Academy (Huntington) | Athertonville Elementary School (Athertonville) Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School (Louisville) Mann Elementary (Union) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | George Washington Middle School (Charleston) Mountaineer Montessori Middle School (Charleston) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) Oldham County Middle School (Buckner) |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Wheeling Park High School (Wheeling) | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) Wheeling Central Catholic High School (Wheeling) | Saint Xavier High School (Louisville) Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charleston Montessori School (Charleston) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) | Christian Academy of Louisville (Louisville) The Lexington School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Kanawha County Schools | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 261 miles from West Virginia to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,350 | 300 ft3 | $4.50 |
1 Bedroom | $2,003 | 450 ft3 | $4.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,301 | 750 ft3 | $4.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,787 | 1100 ft3 | $4.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,882 | 1600 ft3 | $4.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,653 | 1800 ft3 | $4.25 |
Top West Virginia to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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