Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from West Virginia to Virginia
West Virginia has progressive income tax rates from 2.36% to 5.12%, while Virginia charges progressive rates from 2% to 5.75%. Living in Virginia costs $630/year more on $100k income, but offers far better job opportunities (NoVA metro 6M vs Charleston 255K). West Virginia has lower property taxes (0.58% vs VA's 0.80%) and higher sales tax (6.5% vs 5.30%). Overall, Virginia wins for career despite higher taxes. The WV-VA border sees net migration to Virginia for jobs.
Progressive
5 brackets, up to 5.12%
Progressive
4 brackets, up to 5.75%
At $100,000 income:
That is -$53/month back in your pocket!
| Income | WV Tax | VA Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,280 | $2,875 | -$595 | -$5,950 |
| $100,000 | $4,920 | $5,750 | -$830 | -$8,300 |
| $200,000 | $10,140 | $11,500 | -$1,360 | -$13,600 |
| $500,000 | $25,500 | $28,750 | -$3,250 | -$32,500 |
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Moving between West Virginia and Virginia? Multi-state returns are tricky—different progressive tax structures, partial-year residency. Get matched with a CPA who specializes in border state moves.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Get Matched With a CPA →Jobs and salaries. Virginia offers federal government jobs (130K+ federal employees in NoVA), defense contractors (Northrop, Boeing), tech (Amazon HQ2), and much higher salaries ($100K+ common vs WV $40-60K median). Even with $630/year higher taxes + 38% higher cost of living, VA salaries are 50-100% higher. Career earnings difference dwarfs tax savings. WV appeals to retirees and remote workers who prioritize cheap living over career.
Yes, heavy WV → VA migration. In 2023, 14,204 people moved WV → VA (vs 4,872 VA → WV), net gain of 9,332 for Virginia. Migration drivers WV → VA: job opportunities (NoVA boom), higher salaries (50-100% more), better schools (#6 vs #45). Reverse migration (VA → WV) driven by: retirees escaping high cost of living, remote workers seeking cheap housing (Charleston 75% cheaper).
Virginia overwhelmingly wins for federal employees: proximity to DC agencies, security clearance jobs, higher GS locality pay (DC locality is highest in federal system), career advancement, networking. WV has minimal federal presence. Most federal employees live in NoVA (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax) despite higher taxes. Tax difference ($630/year) is negligible compared to salary/career benefits.
West Virginia wins for retirees: lower income tax (4.92% vs VA 5.75%) on retirement income, much lower property tax (0.58% vs 0.80%), cheapest housing in US (Charleston median $165k), lowest cost of living. However, WV has worse healthcare access (#47 vs VA #21). Choose WV for maximum affordability. Choose VA for better healthcare/amenities.