West Virginia to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,897 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job opportunities vs diverse employment sectors), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Huckleberry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Venison, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry Pie & Bison Burger
- Montana housing costs are 183% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Montana is 41.06% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Montana movers is Country Roads Moving LLC
West Virginia to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Montana
- Limited job opportunities
- High humidity
- Narrow mountain roads
- Frequent flooding
- Diverse employment sectors
- Low humidity
- Spacious highways
- Dryer climate
- Smaller arts scene
- Shorter growing season
- More isolation
- Fewer events
- Rich cultural history
- Lush landscapes
- Friendly communities
- Local festivals
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Montana
- Say goodbye to limited job opportunities and hello to diverse employment sectors
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to Montana with low humidity
- Swap the narrow mountain roads of West Virginia for spacious highways in Montana
- Get ready for a drier climate in Montana
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich cultural history in West Virginia to live with a smaller arts scene in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of lush landscapes and have to settle for the con of a shorter growing season
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to more isolation in Montana
- Swap local festivals for fewer events
West Virginia vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Venison | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs with chili | Elk Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | Lentil Stew |
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 Montana, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Huckleberry Pie of Montana. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Venison and sumptuous Hot Dogs with chili, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Elk Sausage 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 Lentil Stew of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Pepperoni Grill, Parkersburg Brewing Co., and Black Bear Burritos. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like The Huckleberry Patch, Bozeman Brewing Company, and Wild Crumb Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Montana
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, privacy | Mountain views, outdoor activities |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and privacy, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor activities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Montana is less walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Montana is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Montana has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Montana housing costs are 183% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Montana is 41.06% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Montana
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/62Β°F | 80Β°F/45Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F/26Β°F | 34Β°F/17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 67" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Montana. Montana gets 24% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Montana 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 wildfires and avalanches in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 5 degrees colder than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 30 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Montana
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 3%-6.5% | 1%-6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Tourism, Biometrics | Construction, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Modest | Mid-range |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 24% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Montana is 5% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in MT is 1%-6.9% compared to 3%-6.5% in WV
- The affluence in Montana is mid-range compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to high in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and moderate in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Montana
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans conservative | Mixed, with conservative leanings |
Local Politics | Local governance often aligned with state-level conservatism | Diverse; some areas lean more liberal, especially around urban centers |
Religion | Christianity predominant, particularly Protestant denominations | Christianity predominant, with a mix of Protestant and Catholic |
- West Virginia tends to lean traditionally conservative in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with conservative leanings
- Montana's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity with a mix of Protestant and Catholic
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, particularly Protestant denominations
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Montana
Comparison | West Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University Fairmont State University | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Sunnyside Elementary (Morgantown) North Elementary (Morgantown) Weberwood Elementary (Charleston) | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary (Bozeman) Cold Springs Elementary (Missoula) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle (Winfield) Suncrest Middle (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle (Bridgeport) | Sacajawea Middle (Bozeman) Washington Middle (Missoula) C.R. Anderson Middle (Helena) |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High (Charleston) Morgantown High (Morgantown) Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) | Bozeman High (Bozeman) Sentinel High (Missoula) Hellgate High (Missoula) |
Top 3 private high schools | Parkersburg Catholic High (Parkersburg) Wheeling Central Catholic High (Wheeling) Charleston Catholic High (Charleston) | Loyola Sacred Heart High (Missoula) Billings Central Catholic High (Billings) Great Falls Central Catholic High (Great Falls) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Notre Dame High (Clarksburg) St. Joseph Preparatory School (Huntington) Parkersburg Catholic Schools (Parkersburg) | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Foothills Community Christian School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County Schools Harrison County Schools | Bozeman Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,897 miles from West Virginia to Montana will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Country Roads Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,278 | 300 ft3 | $7.59 |
1 Bedroom | $3,394 | 450 ft3 | $7.54 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,620 | 750 ft3 | $7.49 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,187 | 1100 ft3 | $7.44 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,829 | 1600 ft3 | $7.39 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,218 | 1800 ft3 | $7.34 |
Top West Virginia to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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