West Virginia to Massachusetts Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 683 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Massachusetts? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Massachusetts across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like lack of job opportunities vs thriving job market), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Clam Chowder), real estate & housing (cape cod, craftsman vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Massachusetts), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Chowder & Lobster Roll
- Massachusetts housing costs are 280% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Massachusetts is 154.13% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Massachusetts will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Massachusetts movers is Paradise Moving & Storage
West Virginia to Massachusetts Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Massachusetts
- Lack of job opportunities
- Limited cultural events
- Less public transport
- Distance to leading universities
- Rural isolation
- Thriving job market
- Diverse cultural scene
- Robust public transit
- Proximity to top colleges
- Urban conveniences
- Harsh winters
- Expensive housing
- Higher living cost
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Traffic congestion
- Beautiful landscapes
- Low cost of living
- Nice small towns
- Friendly communities
- Slower life pace
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Massachusetts
- Say goodbye to lack of job opportunities and hello to a thriving job market
- Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to Massachusetts with a diverse cultural scene
- Swap the less public transport of West Virginia for robust public transit in Massachusetts
- Get ready for proximity to top colleges in Massachusetts
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Massachusetts
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in West Virginia to live with harsh winters in Massachusetts
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of expensive housing
- Time to bid farewell to nice small towns and get used to a higher living cost in Massachusetts
- Swap friendly communities for a fast-paced lifestyle
West Virginia vs. Massachusetts: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Clam Chowder |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | Lobster Roll |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs with Sauce | Fried Clams |
Most popular vegan food | Ramp Soup | Vegan Chowder |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Massachusetts, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Clam Chowder of Massachusetts. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Hot Dogs with Sauce, Massachusetts residents know they have tasty Lobster Roll and Fried Clams to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Ramp Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Chowder of Massachusetts. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Pepperoni Roll, Tudor's Biscuit World, and The Purple Fiddle. After the boxes are unpacked in Massachusetts, don't wait too long before making your way to Massachusetts' acclaimed eateries like Legal Sea Foods, Union Oyster House, and Neptune Oyster.
When comparing lifestyles, Massachusetts shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Massachusetts compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Massachusetts.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Massachusetts
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Craftsman | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, privacy | Access to public transportation, historic features |
- The Cape Cod and Craftsman architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Massachusetts.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and privacy, Massachusetts real estate listings often highlight features like access to public transportation and historic features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Massachusetts is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Massachusetts is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Massachusetts has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Massachusetts housing costs are 280% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $612,509 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Massachusetts have increased 46% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Massachusetts is 154.13% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Massachusetts
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by urban/rural |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 82Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 37Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 47" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 51" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Massachusetts. Massachusetts gets 22% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Massachusetts has lower humidity and a similar 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 blizzards and hurricanes in Massachusetts.
- The average summer high temperature in Massachusetts is 3 degrees colder than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Massachusetts are 4 degrees colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Massachusetts. Massachusetts receives 2 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Massachusetts
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $94,488 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 121.55 |
State Income Tax | 3% to 6.5% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58% | 1.23% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Coal, Natural Gas, Healthcare | Finance, Education, Healthcare |
Affluence | Modest | Prosperous |
Poverty | Significant | Low |
Homelessness | Manageable | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Massachusetts tend to earn about 74% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Massachusetts is 28% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in MA is 5% compared to 3% to 6.5% in WV
- The affluence in Massachusetts is prosperous compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is low in Massachusetts compared to significant in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in West Virginia and noticeable in Massachusetts
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Massachusetts
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on coal mining | Focus on education and healthcare |
Religion | Primarily Christian | Diverse religious landscape |
- West Virginia tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Massachusetts, on the other hand, is often described as lean Liberal
- Massachusetts' religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Massachusetts
Comparison | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Boston University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Sunnyside Elementary Morgantown North Elementary Morgantown Eastwood Elementary Morgantown | Bowen Elementary Newton Vinson-Owen Elementary Winchester School Street School Brookline |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountaineer Middle Morgantown Bridgeport Middle Bridgeport Suncrest Middle Morgantown | Amigos School Cambridge Wayland Middle School Wayland F.A. Day Middle School Newton |
Top 3 High Schools | George Washington High Charleston Bridgeport High Bridgeport Morgantown High Morgantown | Boston Latin School Boston Lexington High School Lexington Brookline High School Brookline |
Top 3 private high schools | Linsly School Wheeling Greenbrier Episcopal School Lewisburg Mercer Christian Academy Princeton | Phillips Academy Andover Andover Groton School Groton Milton Academy Milton |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wheeling Country Day School Wheeling Notre Dame High School Clarksburg Trinity Christian School Morgantown | Buckingham Browne & Nichols School Cambridge The Roxbury Latin School West Roxbury Noble and Greenough School Dedham |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Bridgeport City Schools Kanawha County Schools | Newton Public Schools Lexington Public Schools Brookline Public Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to Massachusetts Movers Cost?
Moving 683 miles from West Virginia to Massachusetts will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Centaur Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,590 | 300 ft3 | $5.30 |
1 Bedroom | $2,362 | 450 ft3 | $5.25 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,899 | 750 ft3 | $5.20 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,664 | 1100 ft3 | $5.15 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,158 | 1600 ft3 | $5.10 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,088 | 1800 ft3 | $5.05 |
Top West Virginia to Massachusetts Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Massachusetts movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Paradise Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Massachusetts