Moving to Roanoke
What you need to know before relocating to Roanoke, Virginia. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Roanoke a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Roanoke compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,087/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($258,300) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market.
Roanoke at a Glance
Cost of Living in Roanoke
The median rent in Roanoke is $1,087/month, while the median home value is $258,300. With a median household income of $65,537, residents spend roughly 20% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Roanoke metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Roanoke has a median household income of $65,537, which is 12% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Roanoke
The violent crime rate in Roanoke is 236 per 100,000 residents, which is 38% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1659 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Virginia
Virginia has a high school graduation rate of 93% and per-pupil spending of $19,546/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
42% of Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Virginia has 304 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.2% uninsured rate, and 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Virginia is 77.7 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Roanoke
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,087/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($258,300) are well below the US median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market
- ✓Violent crime rate (236/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 93%
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (126094 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roanoke a good place to live?⌄
Roanoke, Virginia has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,087/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($258,300) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Roanoke?⌄
The median rent in Roanoke is $1,087/month and the median home value is $258,300. The median household income is $65,537. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Roanoke safe?⌄
Roanoke has a violent crime rate of 236 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Roanoke?⌄
Roanoke has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $65,537.