West Virginia to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 2,568 mile interstate move from West Virginia to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in West Virginia vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse job opportunities), food & health (like Pepperoni Roll vs Salmon), real estate & housing (rural and appalachian vs modern and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pepperoni Roll and Country Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Oysters
- Washington housing costs are 267% more expensive than they are in West Virginia
- Rent in Washington is 97.35% more expensive than in West Virginia
- Moving from West Virginia to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended West Virginia to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
West Virginia to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from West Virginia to Washington
- Limited job market
- Remote rural areas
- Slow internet
- Few cultural events
- Low innovation index
- Diverse job opportunities
- Urban lifestyle
- High-speed internet
- Rich cultural scene
- Tech hub status
- Higher cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Expensive real estate
- Rainy weather
- Fast-paced environment
- Scenic landscapes
- Friendly communities
- Lower housing costs
- Outdoor activities
- Quiet lifestyle
Pros of moving from West Virginia to Washington
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to diverse job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from remote rural areas and moving to Washington with urban lifestyle
- Swap the slow internet of West Virginia for high-speed internet in Washington
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Washington
Cons of moving from West Virginia to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic landscapes in West Virginia to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to lower housing costs and get used to expensive real estate in Washington
- Swap outdoor activities for rainy weather
West Virginia vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pepperoni Roll | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Country Ham | Oysters |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Food Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Morel Mushrooms | Vegan Pho |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Pepperoni Roll of West Virginia for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in West Virginia rave about their flavorful Country Ham and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Washington residents know they have tasty Oysters and Food Truck Tacos 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 Vegan Pho of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic West Virginia eateries like The Purple Fiddle, Pies & Pints, and Camelot. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Matt's in the Market, and Salumi.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than West Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in West Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between West Virginia and Washington
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rural and Appalachian | Modern and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, privacy | Eco-friendly features, proximity to tech hubs |
- The Rural and Appalachian architecture that West Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to West Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and privacy, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly amenities and proximity to tech hubs.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than West Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than West Virginia.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than West Virginia.
- Washington housing costs are 267% more expensive than they are in West Virginia, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to West Virginiaβs $161,063.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49%, compared to a 37% increase in West Virginia.
- Rent in Washington is 97.35% more expensive than in West Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between West Virginia and Washington
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/26 | 47/37 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 20 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from West Virginia to Washington. Washington gets 7% fewer sunshine days than West Virginia.
- Washington has higher humidity and a similar 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 earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 10 degrees colder than in West Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 11 degrees warmer than they are in West Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to West Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: West Virginia and Washington
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $54,329 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 95 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.59% | 0.92% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.40% | 9.29% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Logging, Construction | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 68% more than in West Virginia
- The COLI in Washington is 10% higher than what you are used to living in West Virginia
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is higher compared to moderate affluence in West Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to high poverty in West Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in West Virginia and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in West Virginia vs. Washington
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | Primarily Christian (Local Churches) | Mixed, Less Religious Overall |
- West Virginia tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as mixed and less religious overall
- West Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian (local churches)
Education Guide When Moving from West Virginia to Washington
Comparison | West Virginia | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | West Virginia University Marshall University West Virginia State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bridge Elementary (Bridgeport) North Elementary (Morgantown) Suncrest Primary School (Morgantown) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Samantha Smith Elementary (Sammamish) Discovery Elementary (Gig Harbor) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winfield Middle (Winfield) Bridgeport Middle (Bridgeport) Suncrest Middle (Morgantown) | International School (Bellevue) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bridgeport High (Bridgeport) George Washington High (Charleston) Morgantown High (Morgantown) | International School (Bellevue) Newport Senior High (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charleston Catholic High (Charleston) Wheeling Central Catholic High (Wheeling) Parkersburg Catholic High (Parkersburg) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Notre Dame High School (Clarksburg) Trinity Christian School (Morgantown) Parkersburg Catholic Schools (Parkersburg) | The Bush School (Seattle) The Northwest School (Seattle) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) |
Top 3 School Districts | Monongalia County Schools Harrison County Schools Kanawha County Schools | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Issaquah School District |
How Much Do West Virginia to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,568 miles from West Virginia to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,658 | 300 ft3 | $8.86 |
1 Bedroom | $3,965 | 450 ft3 | $8.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,571 | 750 ft3 | $8.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,582 | 1100 ft3 | $8.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,858 | 1600 ft3 | $8.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,500 | 1800 ft3 | $8.61 |
Top West Virginia to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best West Virginia to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for West Virginia to Washington