The best moving companies in Virginia

Virginia has a population of approximately 8.6 million people—or about 220 residents per square mile.¹ The largest ethnic groups are White, African American, and Asian.² Over 90% of the population finished high school, and roughly 40% graduated from college. The average Virginia household has 2.6 people, and approximately 85% of people live in the same house as one year ago.¹ Nearly 1.2 million people moved in Virginia last year, of which more than 75% made an interstate move.³

Virginia has a median income of approximately $76,400. Less than two-thirds of the population participates in the labor force,¹ and the state added roughly 118,000 new payroll jobs last year.⁵ Old Dominion’s most popular industries are education, construction, and food services. Its highest-paying non-medical occupations include software publishing, commodities, and legal services. Virginia’s wealthiest regions are Loudoun County, Falls Church City, and Fairfax County. Conversely, the state’s poorest areas include Buchanan County, Dickenson County, and Lee County.²

Virginia is the 32nd most affordable state—meaning it’s more expensive to live in 31 states, and 18 states cost less. The state’s housing and health costs are abnormally high compared to the rest of the United States.⁶ Median property values in Virginia are approximately $283,000,¹ and despite high housing costs, the homeownership rate is substantially higher than in most other states.²

Virginia utility bills aren’t cheap, however. The average resident pays about $410 monthly for water, sewage, and electricity. Our research also suggests that Virginians spend roughly $50 each month for TV streaming services, $60 for broadband internet, and about $110 for phone services.

Virginia politics don’t easily indicate a dominant political party. For example, a Pew Research Center poll found that 43% of the state favors the GOP, while 39% lean Democratic.⁷ But those numbers reversed during the 2020 presidential election. In that case, over 54% of voters cast their ballots for Joe Biden, while only 44% voted for Donald Trump.²

The most Republican areas of Virginia include Roanoke County, Wise County, and Lee County. In contrast, the areas with the highest concentration of Democrats are Petersburg County, Charlottesville County, and Richmond County.²

International Van Lines is the best mover in Virginia. It offers interstate moving services from anywhere in the country to Virginia cities like Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Alexandria.

Virginia’s most attractive features include generous income, high homeownership rates, and lower-than-average property taxes. On the other hand, Virginians pay higher healthcare costs than most other states and have a longer commute than the average American.²

Virginia’s best temporary storage solutions have low prices, lots of locations, and plenty of security features. We also recommend checking customer reviews to ensure you don’t find red flags like hidden fees or rude customer service reps.

You may be able to find local moving discounts by hiring a mover in Virginia. Similarly, local moving costs are typically much cheaper than long-distance moves.

Home size and moving distance impact the cost of a Virginia move. For example, moving a large home across the country is more expensive than moving a small apartment within the same city. Pricing also depends on whether you hire one of the best moving container companies, professional movers, or rental truck franchises.

The cost of movers in Virginia depends on which type of mover you hire. For example, professional movers can cost upwards of $10,000, while the cheapest moving truck companies can sometimes get the job done for around $1,000.

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor. During our searches, we:

• Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
• Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
• Go mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
• Perform site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
• Set up regular reviews. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

• Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
• Best Car Shipping Companies
• Best Moving Container Companies
• Best Cheap Moving Companies
• Best Moving Truck Companies

• What Are the Best Northern Virginia Movers?
• What Are the Best Local Moving Companies in Washington, DC?
• Where Can I Find Free Packing Supplies?
• Should I Hire a Packing Service?
• How Much are Virginia Utilities?
• What Should Go on a Moving Day Checklist?
• How Much Does Moving Cost?

1. United States Census Bureau. “Quick Facts: Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
2. Deloitte. “Data USA: Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
3. United States Census Bureau, December 15, 2020. “Census Bureau Releases 2020 CPS ASEC Geographic Mobility Data,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
4. Library of Congress. “Thomas Jefferson’s Design of His Headstone,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
5. United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022. “Virginia Employment Report,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
6. Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 14, 2022.
7. Pew Research Center. “Religious Landscape Study: Party Affiliation among Adults in Virginia,” Accessed October 14, 2022.