Virginia Local Expert
Laura Gray
“She’s photographed 800+ LOVE signs and now suspects Virginia has a crush on her.”
See full bio
JourneysMoving Journeys|From VAMoving from Virginia|To WVMoving to West Virginia|Virginia → West Virginia
Your Virginia to WV Relocation Guide: Is It the Right Move for You?
Two states that share a name and a border do not always share the same way of life. Virginia and West Virginia split into separate states during the Civil War era, and the differences between them have only grown more distinct over time. Virginia leans toward bustling urban corridors, government career opportunities, and a higher cost of living, while West Virginia offers quieter communities, dramatic mountain scenery, and one of the most affordable housing markets in the entire country. Our Snappy Scout team (Laura & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle changes you should expect before packing the first box.
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Who's Behind This Guide
The Moving Truck Drive from VA to West Virginia: What to Expect
Average distance
200miles
Typical route
Driving from Virginia to West Virginia typically takes you along I-81 North, I-64 West, and US-60 West, depending on your origin and destination cities.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Richmond, VA → Charleston, WV
~350 miles
Virginia Beach, VA → Huntington, WV
~450 miles
Roanoke, VA → Beckley, WV
~100 miles
Winchester, VA → Martinsburg, WV
~50 miles
Harrisonburg, VA → Morgantown, WV
~200 miles
Should You Move From Virginia to West Virginia Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to West Virginia 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 Can You Expect to Shell Out Moving from VA to West Virginia?
Moving 200 miles from Virginia 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.
That's the average.
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Who Fits In After Moving from VA to West Virginia?
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, Garden Club Lifetime Member, or PTA President, you'll thrive in your move to West Virginia. But if you're more of a Tech Bro, Hipster, or Beach Bum, 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 West Virginia.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from VA to WV
Homesteading
Virginia
6.5
/10
West Virginia
9
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Acreage, farmers co ops, and Shenandoah canning season.
West Virginia
Gaining
Monroe County hollers, WVU Extension workshops, the annual WV Strawberry Festival
Recommended WV cities/areas for Homesteaders
MoorefieldUnionBuckhannon
Virginia
6.5
/10
West Virginia
9
/10
Gardener
Virginia
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Norfolk Botanical Garden blooms, Maymont roses, daffodil festival.
West Virginia
Gaining
Oglebay gardens, WV Botanic Garden, Capitol Market
Recommended WV cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
Virginia
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
PTA Life
Virginia
6.5
/10
West Virginia
7
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Top schools, stadium fundraisers, and Vienna Halloween Parade.
West Virginia
Gaining
Strong academics in Hurricane schools, great education in Morgantown, lights at Parkersburg's Stadium Field
Recommended WV cities/areas for PTA Presidents
Virginia
6.5
/10
West Virginia
7
/10
Tech Scene
Virginia
9
/10
West Virginia
4
/10
Virginia
Giving up
AWS in Herndon, Metro Silver Line commutes.
West Virginia
Gaining
Morgantown's startups exist, but it's no Silicon Valley
Recommended WV cities/areas for Tech Bros
Virginia
9
/10
West Virginia
4
/10
Hipsters
Virginia
8
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Murals, arcade bars, and JMU house shows.
West Virginia
Gaining
Shepherdstown poetry nights, annual West Virginia Book Festival, Fayetteville gear swaps, Appalachian indie shows
Recommended WV cities/areas for Hipsters
Virginia
8
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Beach Culture
Virginia
4
/10
West Virginia
3
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Boardwalk energy, but mellow surf, occasional jellyfish parades.
West Virginia
Gaining
Soak up the sun at the Summersville Lake or Cheat Lake, but you won't find endless ocean views or a boardwalk
Recommended WV cities/areas for Beach Bums
SummersvilleMorgantown
Virginia
4
/10
West Virginia
3
/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 Virginia and living in West Virginia
VirginiaWest Virginia
The Food Scene Between VA and West Virginia
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 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 ExpertWest Virginia looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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VA to West Virginia: Your Full Tax Breakdown
Virginia
West Virginia
VirginiavsWest Virginia
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Virginia
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
VS
West Virginia
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
Virginia
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
VS
West Virginia
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
Moving from VA to West Virginia: The Values, Beliefs, & Politics Difference
Virginia
West Virginia
VirginiavsWest Virginia
People
PeoplePolite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Virginia
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
VS
West Virginia
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Politics
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Virginia
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
VS
West Virginia
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
Virginia
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
VS
West Virginia
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
The Seasonal Difference Between VA and West Virginia
SUMMER
Virginia
sweet tea sauna (Chesapeake breathes on you, Roanoke bakes by noon)
West Virginia
porch swing sauna (muggy in river valleys, pleasant and more breezy on high ridges)
WINTER
Virginia
coat roulette (Blue Ridge bites, Hampton Roads shrugs and rains)
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 Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
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on it.
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Next 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 Virginia, 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
Moving toClarksburg