Where to move from West Virginia
On a $60,000 salary (about the West Virginia median household income) you keep $48,524 after 2026 taxes. 8 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+4.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving West Virginia
The ranking starts at about West Virginia's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $60,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+4.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +4.9% | +$1,866 | $999 | $57,100 |
| North Dakota | +4.4% | +$1,866 | $980 | $57,300 |
| Mississippi | +3.3% | +$198 | $990 | $58,000 |
| Arkansas | +3.1% | +$61 | $982 | $58,100 |
| Iowa | +2.4% | +$238 | $981 | $58,500 |
| Louisiana | +2.4% | +$452 | $1,064 | $58,500 |
| Oklahoma | +1.3% | -$288 | $1,044 | $59,200 |
| Tennessee | +1.1% | +$1,866 | $1,284 | $59,300 |
| Wyoming | +0.3% | +$1,866 | $998 | $59,800 |
| Alabama | -0.5% | -$643 | $1,077 | $60,300 |
| Nebraska | -0.6% | +$16 | $1,102 | $60,400 |
| Kentucky | -1.0% | -$116 | $998 | $60,600 |
| Missouri | -1.4% | +$19 | $1,067 | $60,900 |
| Ohio | -1.6% | +$992 | $1,090 | $61,000 |
| Kansas | -2.1% | -$682 | $1,079 | $61,300 |
| New Mexico | -2.5% | +$212 | $1,117 | $61,700 |
| South Carolina | -4.1% | +$203 | $1,272 | $62,800 |
| Texas | -4.3% | +$1,866 | $1,475 | $62,800 |
| North Carolina | -5.1% | -$19 | $1,338 | $63,400 |
| Wisconsin | -5.3% | -$203 | $1,142 | $63,600 |
| Indiana | -5.7% | -$848 | $1,104 | $63,800 |
| Montana | -5.8% | -$197 | $1,177 | $63,900 |
| Idaho | -6.7% | -$206 | $1,384 | $64,600 |
| Nevada | -7.1% | +$1,866 | $1,709 | $64,800 |
| Georgia | -7.8% | -$379 | $1,506 | $65,400 |
| Michigan | -7.8% | -$433 | $1,168 | $65,300 |
| Vermont | -8.1% | +$290 | $1,319 | $65,800 |
| Pennsylvania | -8.3% | -$18 | $1,252 | $65,700 |
| Maine | -9.3% | -$806 | $1,210 | $66,700 |
| Arizona | -9.7% | +$769 | $1,672 | $66,900 |
| Alaska | -9.7% | +$1,595 | $1,444 | $66,800 |
| Florida | -10.1% | +$1,866 | $1,812 | $67,100 |
| Utah | -10.2% | -$381 | $1,593 | $67,500 |
| New Hampshire | -10.8% | +$1,866 | $1,558 | $67,800 |
| Minnesota | -11.0% | -$955 | $1,291 | $68,300 |
| Delaware | -12.2% | -$1,027 | $1,530 | $69,400 |
| Illinois | -12.3% | -$959 | $1,322 | $69,200 |
| Virginia | -12.9% | -$770 | $1,646 | $69,900 |
| Rhode Island | -13.3% | -$427 | $1,418 | $70,300 |
| Colorado | -13.8% | -$330 | $1,822 | $70,800 |
| Washington | -14.6% | +$1,034 | $1,824 | $71,300 |
| Connecticut | -15.4% | -$1,009 | $1,550 | $72,600 |
| Massachusetts | -17.5% | -$1,190 | $1,848 | $74,500 |
| Oregon | -18.0% | -$2,528 | $1,597 | $75,100 |
| New Jersey | -18.3% | -$344 | $1,800 | $75,800 |
| Maryland | -18.8% | -$2,277 | $1,721 | $76,000 |
| New York | -18.8% | -$1,036 | $1,634 | $76,100 |
| Washington, DC | -19.5% | -$587 | $1,931 | $77,300 |
| California | -20.1% | -$553 | $2,104 | $78,600 |
| Hawaii | -20.6% | -$1,190 | $1,942 | $78,700 |
Single filer, $60,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where West Virginia residents actually move
West Virginia gained households from other states in 3 of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in West Virginia
- Average electric bill
- $155/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.37/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,162/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $1,073/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Above average (64.4)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
More about living in West Virginia
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in West Virginia.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median West Virginia home.
Retiring in West Virginia
How West Virginia taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to West Virginia
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from West Virginia to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from West Virginia to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for West Virginia and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in West Virginia by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every West Virginia county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from West Virginia move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were Ohio (3,157 households), Virginia (2,725 households), Pennsylvania (1,931 households).
Is West Virginia gaining or losing residents to other states?
West Virginia had a net gain of 879 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave West Virginia?
On a $60,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+4.9%).
Moving to West Virginia instead?
The Moving to West Virginia guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here: