West Virginia to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,029 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Pepperoni Rolls vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs french creole, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Louisiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Rolls and West Virginia Hot Dogs, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e
- Louisiana housing costs are 24% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Louisiana is 31.73% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Louisiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Louisiana movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
West Virginia to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Louisiana
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Occasional isolation
- Fewer entertainment options
- Sparse population
- Mild winters
- Thriving industries
- Cultural diversity
- Vibrant nightlife
- Urban life
- Flat terrain
- Busy cities
- Transient population
- Hurricane threats
- Higher crime rates
- Beautiful landscapes
- Quiet living
- Strong community ties
- Rich history
- Low crime rates
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Louisiana with thriving industries
- Swap the occasional isolation of West Virginia for cultural diversity in Louisiana
- Get ready for vibrant nightlife in Louisiana
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in West Virginia to live with flat terrain in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of quiet living and have to settle for the con of busy cities
- Time to bid farewell to strong community ties and get used to a transient population in Louisiana
- Swap rich history for hurricane threats
West Virginia vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Rolls | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | West Virginia Hot Dogs | Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e |
Most popular street food item | Pepperoni Rolls | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | Okra Gumbo (Vegan version) |
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 Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Rolls of West Virginia for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful West Virginia Hot Dogs and sumptuous Pepperoni Rolls, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e and Po'boys 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 Okra Gumbo (Vegan version) of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Pepperoni Grill, Pies & Pints, and Hillbilly Hot Dogs. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and Acme Oyster House.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | French Creole, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, outdoor space | Historical features, proximity to water |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the French Creole and Colonial architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and outdoor space, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like historical attributes and proximity to water.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Louisiana is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Louisiana is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Louisiana housing costs are 24% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Louisiana is 31.73% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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, Snowstorms | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 91Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 62Β°F / 42Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 0.2" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 30% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Louisiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to West Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and snowstorms in West Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 9 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 15 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Coal, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Oil, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Prevalent | Significant |
Homelessness | Emerging | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 2% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in LA is 6% compared to 6.5% in WV
- The affluence in Louisiana is moderate compared to moderate affluence in West Virginia
- The poverty level is significant in Louisiana compared to prevalent poverty in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is emerging in West Virginia and concerning in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Louisiana
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Conservative with pockets of Liberal influence |
Local Politics | Significant emphasis on coal, labor unions. | Diverse interests including oil, seafood, and Mardi Gras. |
Religion | Primarily Protestant | Mix of Catholic and Protestant faiths |
- West Virginia tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Conservative with pockets of Liberal influence
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as a mix of Catholic and Protestant faiths
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Louisiana
Comparison | West Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Stepping Stone Montessori School - Lewisburg Suncrest Primary School - Morgantown Woodsdale Elementary School - Wheeling | Lusher Charter School - New Orleans Glasgow Middle School - Baton Rouge South Highlands Elementary Magnet - Shreveport |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bridgeport Middle School - Bridgeport Suncrest Middle School - Morgantown Mountaineer Middle School - Morgantown | Picard Middle School - Lafayette Milton Elementary/Middle School - Milton Caddo Parish Middle Magnet School - Shreveport |
Top 3 High Schools | George Washington High School - Charleston Bridgeport High School - Bridgeport Morgantown High School - Morgantown | Benjamin Franklin High School - New Orleans Baton Rouge Magnet High School - Baton Rouge Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies - Metairie |
Top 3 private high schools | The Linsly School - Wheeling Greenbrier Episcopal School - Lewisburg Wheeling Country Day School - Wheeling | Isidore Newman School - New Orleans Episcopal High School - Baton Rouge Jesuit High School - New Orleans |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charleston Catholic High School - Charleston Parkersburg Catholic High School - Parkersburg Notre Dame High School - Clarksburg | Loyola College Prep - Shreveport Sacred Heart of Jesus School - Baton Rouge St. Thomas More Catholic High School - Lafayette |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County Schools Ohio County Schools | Orleans Parish School Board East Baton Rouge Parish School System Jefferson Parish Public School System |
How Much Do West Virginia to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,029 miles from West Virginia to Louisiana 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,786 | 300 ft3 | $5.95 |
1 Bedroom | $2,656 | 450 ft3 | $5.90 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,390 | 750 ft3 | $5.85 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,383 | 1100 ft3 | $5.80 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,205 | 1600 ft3 | $5.75 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,265 | 1800 ft3 | $5.70 |
Top West Virginia to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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