Roanoke 61 Average
Roanoke Livability #246 ranked city in Alabama#17,441 ranked city in the USARanks better than 40% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Roanoke

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

  • Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

  • Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

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What's it like Living in Roanoke?

Located in the state of Alabama, Roanoke is a small city with a population of 5,931 people. Roanoke is mostly populated by White (51%) and Black or African American (46%) ethnic groups. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Roanoke your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 23 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Roanoke can be a positive experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of Alabama, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like crime, cost of living, health & safety, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Roanoke and in the areas around Roanoke is a much easier task.

Roanoke, AL receives 58/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #283 in Alabama and #19,759 in the USA. This is not a favorable rating; as this score ranks among some of the lowest in America. Living in Roanoke may not be a pleasant experience. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Roanoke has higher than average grades for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that did not score well in Roanoke. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: amenities (F), crime (F), education (D-) and employment (F).

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Roanoke market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Roanoke real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Roanoke. Median real estate prices in Roanoke come in at $109,000, which is 15.2% lower than the Alabama average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Roanoke, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 10.3% lower than the Alabama average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Roanoke

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Compare Roanoke, AL Livability

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      Roanoke transportation information

      Statistic Roanoke Alabama National
      Average one way commute23min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work95.0%85.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.0%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%1.1%2.8%
      Working from home0.0%2.9%4.6%
      Source: The Roanoke, AL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).