Virginia Local Expert
Laura Gray
“I arrived in Virginia in 1988 with a teaching job, a love of sunshine, and zero idea I’d still be…”
Read more about me
Making the Move from VA to Texas: Tips to Make It Stress-Free
Virginia and Texas could not feel more different once you actually live in both. The rolling green hills, colonial history, and mid-Atlantic seasons of Virginia give way to wide open plains, blazing summers, and a culture that takes genuine pride in doing everything at its own scale. Whether you are leaving Northern Virginia's dense suburbs behind or departing from a quieter corner of the Shenandoah Valley, the transition to the Lone Star State brings a fresh set of surprises that go well beyond the weather. Our Snappy Scout team (Laura & Francesca) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts you need to understand before a single box gets taped shut.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
Could You Drive a Moving Truck from VA to TX?
Average distance
1,450miles
Typical route
Driving from Virginia to Texas typically takes you along I-81 S or I-95 S to connect with I-40 W or I-20 W, then into Texas via I-20 or I-30, depending on your destination city.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Richmond, VA → Dallas, TX
~1350 miles
Virginia Beach, VA → Houston, TX
~1550 miles
Northern Virginia, VA → Austin, TX
~1500 miles
Roanoke, VA → San Antonio, TX
~1450 miles
Charlottesville, VA → Fort Worth, TX
~1350 miles
Should You Move From Virginia to Texas Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Texas from Virginia is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
How Much Will Relocating to TX from VA Actually Cost?
Moving 1,450 miles from Virginia to Texas will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
4–11days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,270.00
1 Bedroom
$1,870.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,080.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,460.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,410.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,120.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270.00 | 300 | $4.23 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,870.00 | 450 | $4.16 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,080.00 | 750 | $4.11 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,460.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,410.00 | 1,600 | $4.01 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,120.00 | 1,800 | $3.96 |
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.
What Kind of Person Regrets It After Moving from VA to TX?
Well, it depends. If you're a Retired Snowbird, you'll thrive in your move to Texas. But if you're more of a PTA President, Garden Club Lifetime Member, or Minimalist, 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 Virginia to Texas.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from VA to TX
Snowbirds
Virginia
3.5
/10
Texas
6.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Lovely First Landing walks, but winter chills send friends to St. Pete.
Texas
Gaining
Sun-soaked South Padre rolling sand dune winters and world-class birdwatching at Santa Ana refuge
Recommended TX cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
Corpus ChristiMcAllen
Virginia
3.5
/10
Texas
6.5
/10
PTA Life
Virginia
6.5
/10
Texas
2.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Top schools, stadium fundraisers, and Vienna Halloween Parade.
Texas
Gaining
Top schools thrive but Texas football's Friday night lights always outshine bake sales
Recommended TX cities/areas for PTA Presidents
PlanoKaty
Virginia
6.5
/10
Texas
2.5
/10
Gardener
Virginia
7
/10
Texas
3.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Norfolk Botanical Garden blooms, Maymont roses, daffodil festival.
Texas
Gaining
Tyler Rose Garden shines but summers scorch delicate blooms
Recommended TX cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
TylerDallas
Virginia
7
/10
Texas
3.5
/10
Minimalism
Virginia
5
/10
Texas
2
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Urban convenience, but sprawl from Tysons to Short Pump.
Texas
Gaining
Austin tries minimal, but Texas overall thrives on bigger, louder, and more
Recommended TX cities/areas for Minimalists
Virginia
5
/10
Texas
2
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Texas?
Summer thunderstorms in Texas are loud, powerful, and offer a welcome break from the heat.
– Francesca Hernandez-Singer
Texas Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Virginia and living in Texas
VirginiaTexas
From VA to TX: How the Way Locals Eat Shifts
Eating Like a Local in Virginia
What do locals actually order in the Hampton Roads area: White dip with their Mexican chips, She Crab Soup, and an Orange Crush, a one-of-a-kind kind of drink.
Laura GrayVirginia Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Texas
Breakfast tacos are on flour tortillas, BBQ means beef, and the margaritas come with salt on the rim unless you order without.
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas ExpertVA vs TX: The Tax Rundown
Virginia
Texas
VirginiavsTexas
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
None, zero percent statewide!!
Virginia
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
VS
Texas
None, zero percent statewide!!
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
Virginia
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
VS
Texas
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
Moving from VA to TX: The People, Politics, & Religion Change
Virginia
Texas
VirginiavsTexas
People
PeoplePolite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Virginia
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
VS
Texas
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Politics
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Virginia
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
VS
Texas
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
Virginia
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
VS
Texas
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
The Climate Shift Between VA and TX
SUMMER
Virginia
sweet tea sauna (Chesapeake breathes on you, Roanoke bakes by noon)
Texas
blast furnace (triple digits in West Texas)
WINTER
Virginia
coat roulette (Blue Ridge bites, Hampton Roads shrugs and rains)
Texas
light sweater tease (except in the Panhandle, where you'll happily don long johns and fleece-lined outerlayers)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Texas
Outdoor music venues and food & wine festivals are still going strong in October!
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Texas
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 Virginia, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Texas. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Texas local experts.
Moving toAustin
Prep for Tacos, Traffic & Endless Live Music
