Best Virginia to California Movers and Practical Moving Guide
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Moving from the Old Dominion to the Golden State marks an exciting chapter in your life, teeming with new adventures and opportunities. You're trading Virginia's rich history and rolling hills for California's sunny beaches, tech hubs, and cultural melting pot. Understanding the significance of this long-haul journey, it's crucial you partner with trusted and reliable professional movers, ensuring a smooth transition. With our unbiased ranking algorithm, we identify the best movers to match your needs, making your interstate move as seamless as possible.
Best Virginia to California Moving Companies
| Company Name | Rating  | BBB Rating | License | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Moving Services LLC | 9.66 | A+ | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| Pure Moving | 9.64 | A+ | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| ARS Movers | 9.63 | A+ | Authorized For HHG | Contact |
| A Change of Place Movers | 9.59 | NR | Authorized For Property | Contact |
| Matthew's Nationwide Moving | 9.49 | NR | Authorized For Property, HHG | Contact |
| STAR Movers | 9.47 | A+ | Authorized For Property | Contact |
(800) 787-5428
Moving in the opposite direction? Here is our moving from California to Virginia guide.
6 Best VA to CA Moving Companies
These are the top recommended movers based on our unbiased & regularly updated ranking algorithm (NOT paid promotions)
About OCD Moving Services LLC
For over five years, OCD Moving Services LLC has been providing Oakland and the Bay Area with residential and commercial relocation services...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving
- Long Distance Moving
- Commercial Moving
About Pure Moving
Pure Moving has six locations across California, including an office in Los Angeles. This locally operated business moves over 10,000 client...Read More >>
Services
- Residential moving
- Commercial moving
- Long-distance moving
About ARS Movers
ARS Movers is a top-rated, locally-owned moving company based in Herndon, Virginia, serving customers for over a decade. They offer a wide r...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving (Residential Moving)
- Long Distance Moving (Interstate Moving)
- Office Moving (Commercial Moving)
About A Change of Place Movers
The staff members at A Change of Place Movers are some of the most thoughtful, caring moving professionals you will ever meet. They genuinel...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving
- Long Distance Moving
- Residential Moving
About Matthew's Nationwide Moving
Matthew's Nationwide Moving is a family-owned and operated company founded in 2012 in Annandale, Virginia. With over 20 seasoned moving cont...Read More >>
Services
- Local Moving Services
- Nationwide Moving Services
- Packing Services
About STAR Movers
STAR Movers prides itself on being a non-franchise moving company. It is not associated with any nationwide moving chain, which makes it mor...Read More >>
Services
- Residential Home and Apartment Moving
- Labor Only Moves / Loading / Unloading
- Commercial Business Relocation Moves
Dependable Rankings You Can Count On!
Our rankings are data-driven — movers cannot purchase a spot on our list. Here's why you can have confidence in our recommendations:
- No Paid Placements: Every company earns its spot through merit, not payment.
- Extensive Analysis: Evaluated over 24,000 movers across the country for our rankings.
Dependable Rankings You Can Count On!
Our rankings are data-driven — movers cannot purchase a spot on our list. Here's why you can have confidence in our recommendations:
- No Paid Placements: Every company earns its spot through merit, not payment.
- Extensive Analysis: Evaluated over 24,000 movers across the country for our rankings.
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to California
Moving from Virginia to California represents a significant lifestyle shift, considering both the opportunities and challenges that come with such a move. This guide aims to provide an honest reflection of the good and the bad attributes of relocating from Virginia to California , helping you weigh your options thoroughly. Through comparative charts, we delve into the specifics, offering clarity on what awaits on either side.
Virginia- Higher humidity
- Smaller tech industry
- Less diverse cuisine
- Fewer natural parks
California- Better weather
- Larger tech hub
- World-class cuisine
- More natural beauty
California- Higher cost of living
- More expensive homes
- Earthquake risks
- Denser populations
Virginia- Lower living costs
- Rich history
- Seasonal beauty
- Tighter-knit communities
While Virginia might offer an appeal with its lush seasons and a sense of community, California opens the door to unparalleled natural beauty and a vibrant tech scene. Living in California means having access to iconic destinations, from the bustling tech hubs of Silicon Valley to the serene beauty of Yosemite National Park. Foodies moving to California will rejoice in the state's celebrated culinary scene, offering anything from the authentic Mexican cuisine at Guelaguetza in Los Angeles to the innovative dishes at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Yet, the excitement of relocating also comes with its practical considerations—higher living expenses and the housing market in California can be significantly more challenging to navigate compared to Virginia. Nevertheless, the move is a gateway to experiencing the vastness and diversity that define California's allure.
Virginia vs. California Food Guide
When relocating, it’s essential to embrace not just a new home, but the unique flavors of the local culture. Food plays a pivotal role in this transition, making it crucial to understand the culinary landscape of your future home. This guide aims to provide a thorough comparison of the local cuisine between Virginia & California , ensuring you are well-informed about what awaits your palate.
| Virginia | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Ham | Avocado Toast |
| Most popular meat dish | BBQ Pork | Fish Tacos |
| Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Street Tacos |
| Most popular vegan food | Garden Salad | Smoothie Bowls |
| Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
| Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
| Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
| Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
| Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
In both Virginia and California, local cuisine deeply reflects the cultural and agricultural diversity of each state. In Virginia, you'll find traditional Southern comfort foods with an emphasis on meats like the revered Virginia ham and BBQ pork, best experienced in historic eateries or local smokehouses across the state. California, on the other hand, offers a bounty of fresh, innovative dishes with a focus on sustainability and health-conscious choices. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are hotspots for foodies, offering everything from high-end dining experiences at places like Chez Panisse in Berkeley to casual, yet iconic street tacos found throughout the state. The vast difference in the food scenes highlights the unique lifestyles and values of each state, promising an exciting culinary journey regardless of where you decide to call home.
Ready to start your move?
Virginia vs. California Real Estate & Living Facts
Real estate plays a critical role when planning a move. Understanding how housing options compare in Virginia and California helps streamline your decision-making process. This overview will shed light on cost, style, and lifestyle differences between the two.
| Comparison | Virginia | California |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Modern, Spanish |
| Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
| Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
| Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
| Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Yard space, Historic charm | Ocean views, Eco-friendly features |
When comparing real estate between Virginia and California, it’s evident that lifestyle preferences, budget, and desired amenities will heavily influence your choice. Virginia’s Colonial and Cape Cod-style homes with ample yard space offer a slice of American history and a quieter, more suburban lifestyle at a relatively lower cost. On the flip side, California’s higher cost of living comes with the perks of modern, eco-friendly homes, often boasting ocean views and a more vibrant urban lifestyle, reflected in its higher walkability and bikeability scores. Whether your priority is the charm and spaciousness of Virginia or the dynamic, eco-conscious lifestyle of California, each state offers unique advantages to consider.
Virginia vs. California Weather Considerations
When planning a move from Virginia to California, understanding the weather changes Virginia to California is crucial. This comparison will help you adapt more easily to your new environment, highlighting differences in temperature, humidity, natural disasters, and more.
Virginia
California
Average Summer High/Low (°F)
Average Summer High/Low (°F)
Virginia
California
Average Winter High/Low (°F)
Average Winter High/Low (°F)
Virginia
California
Annual Rainfall (Inches)
Annual Rainfall (Inches)
Virginia
California
Annual Snowfall (Inches)
Annual Snowfall (Inches)
| Comparison | Virginia | California |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies widely, major cities often worse |
| Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
| Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
| Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
| Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Transitioning from Virginia to California weather involves adjusting to more days of sunshine and a drier climate overall. You'll experience less humidity and a significant decrease in annual rainfall in California, which can affect everything from your daily lifestyle to the type of landscaping you may consider for your home. Natural disaster precautions will also shift from preparing for hurricanes to understanding earthquake and wildfire protocols. Learning about these elements before your move can greatly ease the transition and help you prepare for a comfortable settling in your new Californian home.
Ready to start your move?
Money, Economy, and Job Market Considerations for Moving from Virginia to California
When contemplating a move between states, it's crucial to gauge how your financial situation will be influenced by the local economic landscape. Understanding the differences in cost of living, state income tax, and average household income between Virginia and California can provide valuable insights for your relocation decisions.
| Comparison | Virginia | California |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $91,551 |
| Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 136.4 |
| State Income Tax | 2-5.75 | 1-13.3 |
| Avg. Property Tax | 0.80 | 0.73 |
| Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3 | 7.25 |
| Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Military | Technology, Agriculture, Entertainment |
| Affluence | Generally affluent | Highly affluent |
| Poverty | Lower | Higher |
| Homelessness | Lesser | Greater |
Moving from Virginia to California, you will observe a distinct increase in the cost of living, primarily influenced by housing costs. Despite California having a higher average household income, the state's cost of living index and state income tax rates are significantly greater, which might impact your disposable income. Notably, California's top industries offer unique career opportunities, particularly in technology and entertainment, which are not as prevalent in Virginia. This economic landscape contributes to California's higher affluence, but also to more pronounced poverty and homelessness rates, reflecting a wider economic disparity.
Virginia vs. California Political & Religious Comparison
Moving from Virginia to California offers a slight change of scenery in more ways than one. This comparison between Virginia & California focuses on giving you a quick snapshot of the political and religious makeup of both states, helping you understand the community you're about to join.
| Virginia | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Political Make-up | Moderately conservative, with pockets of liberalism, especially in urban areas | Strongly liberal, particularly in coastal regions |
| Local Politics | Varies widely between urban and rural areas | Mostly liberal, even in some inland areas |
| Religion | Higher prevalence of Protestant and Evangelical Christians | More religiously diverse, with higher numbers of non-religious people |
When you move from Virginia to California, you might notice a distinct shift in the political climate. Virginia, with its rich history of both conservative and liberal strongholds, offers a complex political landscape that contrasts with California's predominantly liberal ethos, especially apparent in immigration and environmental policies. Religious diversity in California stands out too; while Virginia has a deep-rooted Protestant tradition, you'll find California's population is more religiously varied, including a significant portion of residents identifying as non-religious. This shift reflects the broader demographic and cultural diversity that California is known for, epitomized by places like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Understanding these nuances will help you acclimate to your new home.
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to California
Moving from Virginia to California brings about significant changes, including those in the educational landscape. By comparing schools and education systems, you can better understand what the comparisons are between Virginia and California school options, ultimately aiding in a smoother transition for your family.
| Virginia | California |
|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) University of Virginia Virginia Tech College of William & MaryUniversity of California Los Angeles University of Southern California University of California Berkeley | |
Top 3 Elementary Schools Arlington Science Focus School Arlington; Stenwood Elementary Vienna; Nottingham Elementary ArlingtonEl Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto; Old Orchard School Campbell; Reed Elementary Tiburon | |
Top 3 Middle Schools Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Frost Middle School Fairfax; Henley Middle School CrozetMiller Middle School San Jose; Redwood Middle School Saratoga; Egan Junior High School Los Altos | |
Top 3 High Schools Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; McLean High School McLean; Langley High School McLeanHenry M. Gunn High School Palo Alto; Troy High School Fullerton; California Academy of Mathematics and Science Carson | |
Top 3 private high schools The Potomac School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond; Episcopal High School AlexandriaHarvard-Westlake School Los Angeles; The Harker School San Jose; Polytechnic School Pasadena | |
Top 3 private K-12 schools Flint Hill School Oakton; Collegiate School Richmond; Norfolk Academy NorfolkThe Nueva School Hillsborough; Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Santa Monica; The Webb Schools Claremont | |
Top 3 School Districts Falls Church City Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public SchoolsSan Marino Unified School District La Canada Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District | |
When considering your move to California from Virginia, you'll note significant differences in educational opportunities. For instance, Virginia's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology stands out nationally for its STEM focus, akin to California's California Academy of Mathematics and Science. Both states boast prestigious universities, but California has a higher concentration of top-tier institutions, particularly in the UC system. In the realm of private education, both The Potomac School in Virginia and Harvard-Westlake School in California are renowned for offering academically rigorous programs, although the cultural and environmental settings could not be more distinct. This comparison underscores the importance of considering not just academic excellence but also the surrounding community and lifestyle when selecting the best educational path for your family.
Popular Virginia to California Moving Routes
- Virginia Beach to Los Angeles
- Virginia Beach to San Diego
- Virginia Beach to San Jose
- Virginia Beach to San Francisco
- Virginia Beach to Fresno
- Virginia Beach to Sacramento
- Virginia Beach to Long Beach
- Virginia Beach to Oakland
- Virginia Beach to Bakersfield
- Virginia Beach to Anaheim
- Virginia Beach to Santa Ana
- Virginia Beach to Riverside
- Virginia Beach to Stockton
- Virginia Beach to Irvine
- Virginia Beach to Chula Vista
- Virginia Beach to Fremont
- Virginia Beach to San Bernardino
- Virginia Beach to Modesto
- Virginia Beach to Fontana
- Virginia Beach to Moreno Valley
- Chesapeake to Los Angeles
- Chesapeake to San Diego
- Chesapeake to San Jose
- Chesapeake to San Francisco
- Chesapeake to Fresno
- Chesapeake to Sacramento
- Chesapeake to Long Beach
- Chesapeake to Oakland
- Chesapeake to Bakersfield
- Chesapeake to Anaheim
- Chesapeake to Santa Ana
- Chesapeake to Riverside
- Chesapeake to Stockton
- Chesapeake to Irvine
- Chesapeake to Chula Vista
- Chesapeake to Fremont
- Norfolk to Los Angeles
- Norfolk to San Diego
- Norfolk to San Jose
- Norfolk to San Francisco
- Norfolk to Fresno
- Norfolk to Sacramento
- Norfolk to Long Beach
- Norfolk to Oakland
- Norfolk to Bakersfield
- Norfolk to Anaheim
- Norfolk to Santa Ana
- Norfolk to Riverside
- Norfolk to Stockton
- Norfolk to Irvine
- Norfolk to Chula Vista
- Norfolk to Fremont
- Richmond to Los Angeles
- Richmond to San Diego
- Richmond to San Jose
- Richmond to San Francisco
- Richmond to Fresno
- Richmond to Sacramento
- Richmond to Long Beach
- Richmond to Oakland
- Richmond to Bakersfield
- Richmond to Anaheim
- Richmond to Santa Ana
- Richmond to Riverside
- Richmond to Stockton
- Richmond to Irvine
- Richmond to Chula Vista
- Richmond to Fremont
- Newport News to Los Angeles
- Newport News to San Diego
- Newport News to San Jose
- Newport News to San Francisco
- Newport News to Fresno
- Newport News to Sacramento
- Newport News to Long Beach
- Newport News to Oakland
- Newport News to Bakersfield
- Newport News to Anaheim
- Newport News to Santa Ana
- Newport News to Riverside
- Newport News to Stockton
- Newport News to Irvine
- Newport News to Chula Vista
- Alexandria to Los Angeles
- Alexandria to San Diego
- Alexandria to San Jose
- Alexandria to San Francisco
- Alexandria to Fresno
- Alexandria to Sacramento
- Alexandria to Long Beach
- Alexandria to Oakland
- Alexandria to Bakersfield
- Alexandria to Anaheim
- Alexandria to Santa Ana
- Alexandria to Riverside
- Alexandria to Stockton
- Alexandria to Irvine
- Alexandria to Chula Vista
Popular Moving Routes
Nearby Moving Routes
