Blacksburg vs Roanoke
Blacksburg, Virginia versus Roanoke, Virginia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Blacksburg edges out Roanoke on overall objective livability (56 vs 52 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Blacksburg | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $42k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $43k |
| Home Value | $388k | $162k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $917 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.84% | 1.06% |
| Income Tax | 5.80% | 5.80% |
| Sales Tax | 5.77% | 5.77% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.42% | 11.02% |
| Unemployment | 3.4% | 6.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 35°F | 38°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 78°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0 in | 42.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.7 in | 14.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 232 days | 232 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 80 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 17.9 | 31.5 |
| Air Quality | 36 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 47.9 | 63.7 |
| Violent Crime | 474/100k | 3445/100k |
| Property Crime | 588/100k | 4301/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 45,147 | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 21.7 | 38.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.38 | 0.56 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.22 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+26 |
| White (%) | 75.7% | 57.0% |
| Black (%) | 4.7% | 28.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| Asian (%) | 11.4% | 3.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.5% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 15 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 11.6/20 | 14.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 130 mi | 116 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 94.2% | 82.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 44.08 | 30.54 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Blacksburg or Roanoke more affordable?
- Roanoke has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Blacksburg's $48k and Roanoke's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Blacksburg versus $917 in Roanoke.
- Is Blacksburg or Roanoke safer?
- Blacksburg has the lower violent crime rate. Blacksburg reports 474/100k and Roanoke reports 3445/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Blacksburg or Roanoke?
- The median home value is $388k in Blacksburg and $162k in Roanoke, so homes are more affordable in Roanoke.