West Virginia to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 539 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons, food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in West Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Tennessee is 68.27% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
West Virginia vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Tudor's Biscuit | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Tudor's Biscuit, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and BBQ Nachos 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 BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Purple Fiddle, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and Tamarack. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Central BBQ, and The Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee, compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Natural landscapes, Privacy | Urban amenities, Entertainment options |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference natural landscapes and privacy, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like urban amenities and entertainment options.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Tennessee is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Tennessee is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Tennessee housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Tennessee is 68.27% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by region |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 26Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 53" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 36% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Tennessee 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 floods and tornadoes in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 4 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 8 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Tennessee
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 3% - 6.5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Healthcare, Education | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Prevalent | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Limited | Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 20% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Tennessee is 6% lower than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is noticeable in Tennessee compared to prevalent in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is limited in West Virginia and visible in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Tennessee
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative majority | Conservative majority |
Local Politics | Local government tends to lean conservative, with emphasis on coal and energy policy | Local government is predominantly conservative, with priorities on business and agriculture |
Religion | Protestant Christian majority | Protestant Christian majority, with significant Baptist presence |
- West Virginia tends to lean conservative majority in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as conservative majority
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as Protestant Christian majority with significant Baptist presence
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Tennessee
Comparison | West Virginia | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Stepping Stone Montessori School (Lewisburg) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) North Elementary School (Morgantown) | Lockeland Elementary Design Center (Nashville) New Hope Christian Academy (Memphis) Discovery School (Murfreesboro) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle School (Winfield) Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Bridgeport Middle School (Bridgeport) | Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Houston Middle School (Germantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Ravenwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Greenbrier Episcopal School (Lewisburg) Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) | Brentwood Academy (Brentwood) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Baylor School (Chattanooga) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) | Webb School (Knoxville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Harding Academy (Nashville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Morgantown Area School District Bridgeport Area School District Charleston Area School District | Williamson County Schools Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Oak Ridge School District |
How Much Do West Virginia to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 539 miles from West Virginia to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,508 | 300 ft3 | $5.03 |
1 Bedroom | $2,240 | 450 ft3 | $4.98 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,695 | 750 ft3 | $4.93 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,365 | 1100 ft3 | $4.88 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,723 | 1600 ft3 | $4.83 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,598 | 1800 ft3 | $4.78 |
Top West Virginia to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Tennessee