Roanoke, Virginia
Among the top 17% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 63% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 50% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 32% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 83% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 51% of US places
- top 2% for walkability
- top 10% for sales tax
- bottom 1% for violent crime
Roanoke is a mid-size city in Virginia with about 99,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and C for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include walkability, sales tax, and park & nature access. It rates lower on property crime and violent crime.
Official websiteroanokeva.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot summers · Cool winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
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70%58%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.1 in3.0 in
humid 93%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$52k31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 85% of US places
Home Value$162k50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$917better than 49% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 62% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.06%better than 47% of US places
Income Tax5.80%better than 36% of US places
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.02%better than 35% of US places
Unemployment6.6%better than 28% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)38°F66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation42.8 in53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall14.8 inbetter than 54% of US places
Sunny Days232 daysbetter than 49% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 44% of US places
Comfortable Days80 daysbetter than 44% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk31.5better than 89% of US places
Air Quality44 AQIbetter than 62% of US places
School Quality63.7better than 58% of US places
Violent Crime3445/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Crime4301/100kbetter than 2% of US places
Community
Population99,21399th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.136th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5690th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8929th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+2610th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)57.0%21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)28.7%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)6.9%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.2%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.2%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 81% of US places
Walkability14.5/20better than 98% of US places
Airport Distance116 mibetter than 29% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.3%better than 37% of US places
Amenities Nearby30.54better than 29% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 90% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Roanoke an affordable place to live?
- Roanoke is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 85% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Roanoke?
- The median home value in Roanoke is $162k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Roanoke?
- Median household income in Roanoke is $52k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Roanoke?
- Median gross rent in Roanoke is $917 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Roanoke safe?
- Roanoke is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 3445/100k (better than 1%). Property crime is 4301/100k.
- What is the weather like in Roanoke?
- Roanoke averages 78°F in July and 38°F in January, with 42.8 in of annual precipitation and about 232 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Roanoke?
- Public-school quality in Roanoke is about average, scoring better than 58% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Roanoke?
- The average one-way commute in Roanoke is 21 min.
Places near Roanoke
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)