West Virginia to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 703 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job opportunities vs expanding job market), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs St. Louis Style Pizza), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Missouri), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis Style Pizza & St. Louis Style Ribs
- Missouri housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Missouri is 33.60% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
West Virginia to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Missouri
- Limited job opportunities
- Lack of urban amenities
- Higher poverty rates
- Expanding job market
- Vibrant city life
- Improved living standards
- Less scenic diversity
- Less historical charm
- Less tight-knit community feel
- Breathtaking nature
- Rich cultural heritage
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Missouri
- Say goodbye to limited job opportunities and hello to an expanding job market
- Look forward to moving away from a lack of urban amenities and moving to Missouri with vibrant city life
- Swap the higher poverty rates of West Virginia for improved living standards in Missouri
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from breathtaking nature in West Virginia to live with less scenic diversity in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural heritage and have to settle with the con of less historical charm
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to a less tight-knit community feel in Missouri
West Virginia vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | St. Louis Style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | St. Louis Style Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom-Based Dishes | Jackfruit BBQ |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious St. Louis Style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Missouri residents know they have tasty St. Louis Style Ribs and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom-Based Dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Grind, Pies & Pints, and Front Porch. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Bogart's Smokehouse, and Billy Gail's Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Missouri
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain view, Privacy | Spacious backyards, Garage space |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and privacy, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and garage space.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Missouri is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Missouri is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Missouri housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Missouri is 33.60% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Missouri
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 20" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Missouri. Missouri gets 25% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Missouri has lower 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 tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 4 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Missouri are 6 degrees colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Missouri
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 3-6.5% | 0-5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.50% | 4.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Coal Mining, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Agribusiness, Automotive, Healthcare |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 19% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Missouri is 3% lower than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in MO is 0-5.4% compared to 3-6.5% in WV
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to significant in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and moderate in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Missouri
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Swing State, Trends Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative on economic issues | Moderate, with urban areas leaning more liberal |
Religion | Protestant majority | Protestant majority, significant Catholic presence |
- West Virginia tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, trending Republican
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as having a Protestant majority with a significant Catholic presence
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Missouri
Comparison | West Virginia | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Suncrest Primary (Morgantown) Steenrod Elementary (Wheeling) North Elementary (Morgantown) | Conway Elementary (Ladue) Wilson School (Clayton) Kennard Classical Junior Academy (St. Louis) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle (Winfield) Barboursville Middle (Barboursville) Mountaineer Middle (Morgantown) | Wydown Middle (Clayton) Ladue Middle (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High (Charleston) Morgantown High (Morgantown) Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) | Clayton High (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) John Burroughs School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charleston Catholic High (Charleston) Wheeling Central Catholic High (Wheeling) Notre Dame High (Clarksburg) | John Burroughs School (St. Louis) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) St. Louis Priory School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Notre Dame Academy (Charleston) | Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Thomas Jefferson School (Sunset Hills) The Barstow School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Harrison County Schools | Clayton School District Ladue School District Park Hill School District |
How Much Do West Virginia to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 703 miles from West Virginia to Missouri 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: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,601 | 300 ft3 | $5.34 |
1 Bedroom | $2,379 | 450 ft3 | $5.29 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,928 | 750 ft3 | $5.24 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,705 | 1100 ft3 | $5.19 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,219 | 1600 ft3 | $5.14 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,156 | 1800 ft3 | $5.09 |
Top West Virginia to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Missouri