West Virginia to Montana Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Montana

ConsWest Virginia

• Limited job opportunities
• High humidity
• Narrow mountain roads
• Frequent flooding

ProsMontana

• Diverse employment sectors
• Low humidity
• Spacious highways
• Dryer climate

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Montana

• Smaller arts scene
• Shorter growing season
• More isolation
• Fewer events

West Virginia

• 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

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

• 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 Virginia’s $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

• 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

• 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

• West Virginia tends to lean strongly Republican in its political climate
• Montana, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning overall; the GOP holds the governorship and legislature, with a mix of party representation in some federal offices.
• Montana's religious environment can be described as more religiously unaffiliated than West Virginia, with a mix of Protestant (evangelical and mainline) and Catholic communities; it also includes Latter-day Saints and Native American spiritual traditions.
• West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Protestant with a large evangelical presence; there is a smaller Catholic population and a lower share of religiously unaffiliated individuals than the national average.

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.