Moving from Oakland, CA to Hampton, VA
Moving from Oakland, CA to Hampton, VA is a 2958 mi cross-country relocation — about 52h 15m of driving through 11 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.
2958 mi · 52h 15m by car · CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → MO → IL → IN → KY → WV → VA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → MO → IL → IN → KY → WV → VA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, I 64, I 70 |
| Major cities en route | Fremont, Hayward, Sunnyvale, San Mateo, Berkeley |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Oakland | Hampton | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 97.941 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 89.579 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 96.767 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 99.805 | 100.0 |
RPP moves from 115.613 to 97.941, putting Hampton roughly 15.3% below Oakland on the overall price level.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Homes run dramatically cheaper in Hampton: 15.3% below Oakland on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).
YoY change: Oakland -8.5%, Hampton -0.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Oakland | Hampton |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 60°F | 60°F |
| January avg low | 45°F | 32°F |
| July avg high | 72°F | 87°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 2.7" |
| Annual precipitation | 22.6" | 47.8" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Light snow year: Hampton gets around 2.7 in annually.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: OAKLAND MUSEUM, CA US, LANGLEY AFB, VA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Oakland | Hampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 438,072 | 137,334 |
| Median household income | $97,369 | $67,758 |
| Median age | 37.6 | 36.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 17.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.53 | 2.38 |
Median household income in Hampton is 15.3% below Oakland ($97,369 vs $67,758, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Hampton MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 82,690 | $39,820 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 71,490 | $29,090 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 69,500 | $31,880 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 59,850 | $38,810 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 57,140 | $79,090 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Virginia
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Virginia's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
- I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
- I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
- I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April — check WYDOT 511 before departure.
- I-75 at Jellico Mountain (KY/TN border) sees chain requirements in winter storms.
- I-77 at Flat Top Mountain and I-64 through the Greenbrier Valley see chain requirements in winter storms.
- I-64 across Afton Mountain and I-77 at Fancy Gap see chain requirements in winter storms.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Frequently asked
Is Hampton more expensive than Oakland?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Hampton is 15.3% lower than Oakland (97.941 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Hampton compared to Oakland?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $275,341 in Hampton vs $716,248 in Oakland — a 61.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How far is Hampton, VA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance is 2958 mi and the route typically takes 52h 15m via I 80 and I 64. The trip crosses 11 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does the job market in Hampton compare to Oakland?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,990 in the Hampton MSA vs $72,050 in the Oakland MSA, on total employment of 737,200 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How does household income compare in Oakland vs Hampton?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $67,758 in Hampton vs $97,369 in Oakland — a 30.4% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Oakland to Hampton?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2958 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Oakland and Hampton?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 59.8°F in Hampton vs 59.6°F in Oakland (0.2°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 2.7 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 47.8 in vs 22.6 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Oakland.
City profiles: Oakland, CA · Hampton, VA.