West Virginia to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 661 mile interstate move from West Virginia to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job opportunities vs diverse job market), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Bagels), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs colonial, modern high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & New York Strip Steak
- New York housing costs are 186% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in New York is 150.10% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to New York will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
West Virginia to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to New York
- Limited job opportunities
- Narrow cultural scene
- Limited public transit
- Fewer higher education options
- Diverse job market
- Vibrant cultural life
- Extensive transit system
- Renowned universities
- High living expenses
- Busy urban lifestyle
- Anonymous city life
- Crowded city spaces
- Lower cost of living
- Peaceful natural beauty
- Close-knit communities
- Charming small towns
Pros of moving from West Virginia to New York
- Say goodbye to limited job opportunities and hello to a diverse job market
- Look forward to moving away from a narrow cultural scene and moving to New York with a vibrant cultural life
- Swap the limited public transit of West Virginia for an extensive transit system in New York
- Get ready for renowned universities in New York
Cons of moving from West Virginia to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in West Virginia to live with high living expenses in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of peaceful natural beauty and have to settle for the con of a busy urban lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to an anonymous city life in New York
- Swap charming small towns for crowded city spaces
West Virginia vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Bagels |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | New York Strip Steak |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Ramps (Wild Leeks) | Seitan |
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 York, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Bagels of New York. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Hot Dogs, New York residents know they have tasty New York Strip Steak and Pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Ramps (Wild Leeks) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like Tomaro's Bakery, The Purple Fiddle, and Dem 2 Brothers & A Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Junior's Cheesecake.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and New York
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Colonial, Modern High-rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic Views, Privacy | Accessibility, Luxury Amenities |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Modern High-rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and privacy, New York real estate listings often highlight features like accessibility and luxury amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- New York has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- New York housing costs are 186% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased 36% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in New York is 150.10% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and New York
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 82/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/26 | 38/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 25-60 (varies greatly across the state) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to New York. New York gets 10% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- New York has lower humidity and a lower 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 hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees colder than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 0 degrees colder than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New York. New York receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and New York
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 8.82% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 8.875% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Forestry, Manufacturing | Finance, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | Modest | High |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 46% more than those in West Virginia
- The COLI in New York is 8% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in NY is 8.82% compared to 6.5% in WV
- The affluence in New York is high compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to significant in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. New York
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | Majority Christian | Diverse, with a significant Jewish population |
- West Virginia tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- New York's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant Jewish population
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Christian
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to New York
Comparison | West Virginia | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University Fairmont State University | Columbia University New York University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Steptoe & Johnson Elementary (Bridgeport) Eastwood Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School (New York City) Anderson School (New York City) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountaineer Middle (Morgantown) Suncrest Middle (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle (Bridgeport) | Anderson School Public School 334 (New York City) Icahn Charter School 7 (Bronx) Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens) |
Top 3 High School Schools | George Washington High (Charleston) Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) Morgantown High (Morgantown) | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Collegiate School (New York City) Brearley School (New York City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) | Chapin School (New York City) Dalton School (New York City) Trinity School (New York City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Bridgeport Public Schools Morgantown Public Schools | Jericho Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Union Free School District |
How Much Do West Virginia to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 661 miles from West Virginia to New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,577 | 300 ft3 | $5.26 |
1 Bedroom | $2,343 | 450 ft3 | $5.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,868 | 750 ft3 | $5.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,618 | 1100 ft3 | $5.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,092 | 1600 ft3 | $5.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,013 | 1800 ft3 | $5.01 |
Top West Virginia to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to New York