West Virginia to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,542 mile interstate move from West Virginia to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs growing economy), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and West Virginia Hot Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in New Mexico is 36.35% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
West Virginia to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to New Mexico
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- Harsh winters
- Limited healthcare access
- Growing economy
- Urban opportunities
- Mild winters
- Better healthcare facilities
- Desert climate
- Higher taxes
- Cultural adjustment
- Urban anonymity
- Scenic landscapes
- Lower cost of living
- Rich Appalachian culture
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from West Virginia to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to growing economy
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to New Mexico with urban opportunities
- Swap the harsh winters of West Virginia for mild winters in New Mexico
- Get ready for better healthcare facilities in New Mexico
Cons of moving from West Virginia to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic landscapes in West Virginia to live with desert climate in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher taxes
- Time to bid farewell to rich Appalachian culture and get used to cultural adjustment in New Mexico
- Swap close-knit communities for urban anonymity
West Virginia vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | West Virginia Hot Dog | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Pepperoni Roll | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | Blue Corn Pancakes |
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 New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful West Virginia Hot Dog and sumptuous Pepperoni Roll, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito 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 Blue Corn Pancakes of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Greenbrier, Tudor's Biscuit World, and Dem 2 Brothers and A Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Santa CafΓ©, Frontier Restaurant, and El Modelo Mexican Foods.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and New Mexico
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Rustic charm | Desert landscape, Modern amenities |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and rustic charm, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like desert landscapes and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- New Mexico housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in New Mexico is 36.35% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and New Mexico
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 48Β°F / 25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 87% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to West Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and storms in West Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 7 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 1 degree colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 31 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and New Mexico
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 6.5 | 5.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59 | 0.78 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5 | 7.8 |
Top 3 Industries | Coal, Chemical, Tourism | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Film |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 10% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in New Mexico is 2% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in NM is 5.9 compared to 6.5 in WV
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in New Mexico compared to significant in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. New Mexico
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative Majority | Liberal Majority |
Local Politics | Emphasis on coal and industry | Focus on environmental concerns and renewable energy |
Religion | Highly Christian (Protestant) | Mix of Catholic and Protestant with significant Native American spiritual practices |
- West Virginia tends to lean conservative majority in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as liberal majority
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as a mix of Catholic and Protestant with significant Native American spiritual practices
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly Christian (Protestant)
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to New Mexico
Comparison | West Virginia | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Sunnyside Elementary (Morgantown) Steenrod Elementary (Wheeling) Woodsdale Elementary (Wheeling) | Synergy Charter (Albuquerque) Pinon Elementary (Santa Fe) New Mexico School For The Arts (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle (Winfield) Bridgeport Middle (Bridgeport) Mountaineer Middle (Clarksburg) | Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Math & Science The Mandela International Magnet School (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 High Schools | George Washington High (Charleston) Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) Fairmont Senior High (Fairmont) | La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Academy Las Cruces High (Las Cruces) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Charleston Catholic High (Charleston) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) | Albuquerque Academy Santa Fe Preparatory School Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Linsly School (Wheeling) Wheeling Country Day Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) | Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Menaul School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Waldorf School |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Ohio County Schools Jefferson County Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,542 miles from West Virginia to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,077 | 300 ft3 | $6.92 |
1 Bedroom | $3,093 | 450 ft3 | $6.87 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,117 | 750 ft3 | $6.82 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,450 | 1100 ft3 | $6.77 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,756 | 1600 ft3 | $6.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,010 | 1800 ft3 | $6.67 |
Top West Virginia to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.