West Virginia to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 240 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job opportunities vs stronger job market), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Ham Biscuits), real estate & housing (cape cod, colonial vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Venison, but get your taste buds ready for Ham Biscuits & Smithfield Ham
- Virginia housing costs are 140% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Virginia is 83.20% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Virginia movers is ARS Movers
West Virginia to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Virginia
- Limited job opportunities
- Less metropolitan culture
- Harsh winter weather
- Fewer healthcare facilities
- Stronger job market
- Rich cultural scene
- Milder climate
- Advanced healthcare services
- Higher cost of living
- Busy and hectic life
- Denser population
- Less rural charm
- Breathtaking natural beauty
- Peaceful surroundings
- Close-knit communities
- Outdoor activities galore
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Virginia
- Say goodbye to limited job opportunities and hello to a stronger job market
- Look forward to moving away from a less metropolitan culture and moving to Virginia with a rich cultural scene
- Swap the harsh winter weather of West Virginia for a milder climate in Virginia
- Get ready for advanced healthcare services in Virginia
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from breathtaking natural beauty in West Virginia to live with a higher cost of living in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of peaceful surroundings and have to settle with the con of a busy and hectic life
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to a denser population in Virginia
- Swap outdoor activities galore for less rural charm
West Virginia vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Ham Biscuits |
Most popular meat dish | Venison | Smithfield Ham |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Oysters |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushroom Dishes | Vegetable Grain Bowls |
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 Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Ham Biscuits of Virginia. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Venison and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Virginia residents know they have tasty Smithfield Ham and Oysters to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Morel Mushroom Dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Grain Bowls of Virginia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like Country Club Bakery, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and Seneca Caverns. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Mama's Kitchen, and Pies & Pints.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Virginia
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Colonial | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, Mountain views | Proximity to jobs, Public transportation access |
- The Cape Cod and Colonial architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and mountain views, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to jobs and access to public transportation.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Virginia housing costs are 140% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Virginia have increased 42% compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Virginia is 83.20% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Virginia
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 87/65 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/21 | 47/27 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 44 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from West Virginia to Virginia. Virginia gets 25% more sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Virginia 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 hurricanes and earthquakes in Virginia.
- The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 2 degrees warmer than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Virginia. Virginia receives 2 more inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Virginia
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 3.0 - 6.5 | 2.0 - 5.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57 | 0.80 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0 | 5.3 - 7.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Tourism | Government, Defense, Tech |
Affluence | Modest | Wealthy |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Visible | Controlled |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 58% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Virginia is 2% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- The state income tax in VA is 2.0 - 5.75 compared to 3.0 - 6.5 in WV
- The affluence in Virginia is wealthy compared to modest in West Virginia
- The poverty level is lower in Virginia compared to higher in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in West Virginia and controlled in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Virginia
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Swing State, Trending Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative Votes Prevail | Mix of Conservative and Liberal, Depending on the Area |
Religion | Christianity Predominant | Religious Diversity, Including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism |
- West Virginia tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state trending Democratic
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as religious diversity including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Virginia
Comparison | West Virginia | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Steenrod Elementary (Wheeling) Woodsdale Elementary (Wheeling) Holz Elementary (Charleston) | Arlington Science Focus School (Arlington) Nottingham Elementary School (Arlington) Westbriar Elementary School (Vienna) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Suncrest Middle School (Morgantown) Bridge Street Middle School (Wheeling) John Adams Middle School (Charleston) | Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church) Cooper Middle School (McLean) Frost Middle School (Fairfax) |
Top 3 High Schools | George Washington High School (Charleston) Morgantown High School (Morgantown) Wheeling Park High School (Wheeling) | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria) McLean High School (McLean) Langley High School (McLean) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling) Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston) | The Potomac School (McLean) Norfolk Academy (Norfolk) St. Christopher's School (Richmond) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Linsly School (Wheeling) Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) | The Potomac School (McLean) Flint Hill School (Oakton) The Madeira School (McLean) |
Top 3 School Districts | Ohio County Schools Monongalia County Schools Kanawha County Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools Arlington County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools |
How Much Do West Virginia to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 240 miles from West Virginia to Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,339 | 300 ft3 | $4.46 |
1 Bedroom | $1,985 | 450 ft3 | $4.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,271 | 750 ft3 | $4.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,743 | 1100 ft3 | $4.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,819 | 1600 ft3 | $4.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,581 | 1800 ft3 | $4.21 |
Top West Virginia to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.