Pennsylvania Local Expert
Alyssa Kruse
“She reads 200 books a year and knits her own snuggle blankets”
See full bio
JourneysMoving Journeys|From PAMoving from Pennsylvania|To WVMoving to West Virginia|Pennsylvania → West Virginia
Moving to West Virginia from PA: Hidden Costs You Need to Know
Pennsylvania and West Virginia share a border, but crossing it can feel like stepping into a different world entirely. The urban energy of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh gives way to rolling Appalachian terrain, smaller towns, and a pace of life that takes some genuine adjustment. Lower costs and wide open landscapes draw plenty of people south and west, yet the day to day realities of the Mountain State catch many newcomers off guard. Our Snappy Scout team (Alyssa & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts you should plan for before loading the first moving truck.
Who's Behind This Guide
How Far Is PA from West Virginia, Really?
Average distance
200miles
Typical route
Major highways you'd drive to get from Pennsylvania to West Virginia include I-79 South, I-68 West, and US-119 South, depending on your origin and destination cities.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Pittsburgh, PA → Morgantown, WV
~100 miles
Philadelphia, PA → Charleston, WV
~400 miles
Allentown, PA → Huntington, WV
~450 miles
Harrisburg, PA → Wheeling, WV
~200 miles
Erie, PA → Parkersburg, WV
~250 miles
What Does It Actually Cost to Relocate from PA to West Virginia?
Moving 200 miles from Pennsylvania to West Virginia will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $6,000.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$6,000.00
Expected Time
2–9days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,700.00
1 Bedroom
$2,530.00
2 Bedrooms
$4,180.00
3 Bedrooms
$6,070.00
4 Bedrooms
$8,750.00
5+ Bedrooms
$9,760.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,700.00 | 300 | $5.67 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,530.00 | 450 | $5.62 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $4,180.00 | 750 | $5.57 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $6,070.00 | 1,100 | $5.52 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $8,750.00 | 1,600 | $5.47 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $9,760.00 | 1,800 | $5.42 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Is West Virginia the Right Move for You?
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, Garden Club Lifetime Member, or Farmer's Market Regular, you'll thrive in your move to West Virginia. But if you're more of a Coffee Snob, Craft Beer Fan, or Gamer, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from PA to WV
Homesteading
Pennsylvania
6
/10
West Virginia
9
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Acreage cheap, maple runs, farmers fairs like Bloomsburg
West Virginia
Gaining
Monroe County hollers, WVU Extension workshops, the annual WV Strawberry Festival
Recommended WV cities/areas for Homesteaders
MoorefieldUnionBuckhannon
Pennsylvania
6
/10
West Virginia
9
/10
Gardener
Pennsylvania
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Longwood Gardens glam, Phipps Conservatory blooms year round
West Virginia
Gaining
Oglebay gardens, WV Botanic Garden, Capitol Market
Recommended WV cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
Pennsylvania
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Farmer's Markets
Pennsylvania
8
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Amish delights, Headhouse Square, Kennett Square, Historic Round Barn, Suburban Square
West Virginia
Gaining
Charleston's Capitol Market produce and indoor Purple Onion market, Morgantown Farmers Market Saturdays, Lewisburg Farmers Market
Recommended WV cities/areas for Farmer's Market Regulars
Pennsylvania
8
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Coffee Culture
Pennsylvania
8.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
La Colombe flagship, Commonplace roasts, Elixr latte art, Homestead Roasters, Backyard Beans
West Virginia
Gaining
Lost Dog Coffee, TipTop, Mea Cuppa
Recommended WV cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
Pennsylvania
8.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Craft Beer Culture
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
West Virginia
8
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Troegs, Dancing Gnome, Grist House, Hitchhiker Brewing, Yuenglings, Weyerbacher, Spring House Brewing, Yards Brewing, Human Robot, Wissahickon Brewing Company
West Virginia
Gaining
Fayetteville's Bridge Brew Works, Big Timber brewing Co. in Elkins, The Brew Pub in Morgantown
Recommended WV cities/areas for Craft Beer Fans
FayettevilleElkinsMorgantown
Pennsylvania
9.5
/10
West Virginia
8
/10
Gaming
Pennsylvania
7.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Nerd Street events, Replay FX legacy, Oaks Expo cons
West Virginia
Gaining
WVU varsity esports, Huntington Old North Arcade Bar & Kitchen, Charleston's Board Room
Recommended WV cities/areas for Gamers
Pennsylvania
7.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of West Virginia?
For me, West Virginia is so hard to encapsulate with one image or experience, but I'm always reminded of West Virginia as home when driving on I-79, when I can wind through the hillsides and see cows grazing.
– Hannah Wyatt
West Virginia Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Pennsylvania and living in West Virginia
PennsylvaniaWest Virginia
PA to West Virginia: A Foodie's Guide to the Food Scene
Eating Like a Local in Pennsylvania
To order a cheesesteak:
1. Pick your cheese: Whiz, prov, or American (Cooper Sharp is the best)
2. "Wit" or "Witout": do you want fried onions or not (you do!)
3. Move it. You're probably double-parked!
Alyssa KrusePennsylvania Local ExpertEating Like a Local in West Virginia
Everybody talks about pepperoni rolls when the topic of West Virginia food comes up. But there's so much more to enjoy - from springtime ramps to autumn pawpaw fruit, apple butter festivals, and more! In Helvetia - a Swiss-settled town in Randolph County - you can enjoy Swiss Appalachian cuisine in The Hütte.
Hannah WyattWest Virginia Local ExpertIs West Virginia a More Tax-Friendly State for Your Tax Life?
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
PennsylvaniavsWest Virginia
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Pennsylvania
Flat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
VS
West Virginia
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigh in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
Pennsylvania
High in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
VS
West Virginia
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
How Culture, Politics, & Faith Differ Between PA and West Virginia
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
PennsylvaniavsWest Virginia
People
PeopleGritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Pennsylvania
Gritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
VS
West Virginia
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Politics
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Pennsylvania
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
VS
West Virginia
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
Pennsylvania
Mostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
VS
West Virginia
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
What Hits Different About the Weather When You Move from PA to West Virginia
SUMMER
Pennsylvania
Philly subway sauna vibes (sticky 90s with humidity that makes it feel like 100°). The mountain evenings are merciful in the Poconos.
West Virginia
porch swing sauna (muggy in river valleys, pleasant and more breezy on high ridges)
WINTER
Pennsylvania
choose your own chill. Lake Erie flurries can go blizzard mode, Philly gets slush usually right after you shovel, and the Poconos snow pack gets real cold.
West Virginia
flannel-mandatory, with the most frigid weather in higher-elevation counties like Tucker County, home to Canaan Valley
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in West Virginia
Each summer, the color of west Virginia comes alive. There's a haziness to the trees and flowers, and driving down the Interstate, you can see rows of mountain ridges against the horizon. It's a special, natural beauty unlike anything you'll find elsewhere.
Hannah WyattWest Virginia Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to West Virginia
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Pennsylvania, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to West Virginia. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from West Virginia local experts.
Moving toBeckley
Pack Your Parking Brake and Prepare for a Slower Pace of Life
Moving toCharleston
Trails, Taps, Gold Dome Views, Flood Checks
