Roanoke, VA, known as 'The Star City of the South,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in the Roanoke Valley, Roanoke is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Lynchburg (56 miles) and Blacksburg (43 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Roanoke's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Roanoke is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Roanoke Star, the historic Taubman Museum of Art, and the scenic Mill Mountain Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Center in the Square to the bustling Roanoke City Market, known for its shopping and dining. Roanoke's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Roanoke Festival in the Park and the Virginia's Blue Ridge Go Cross highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Roanoke's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Virginia Western Community College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Roanoke is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Jefferson Center and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Roanoke provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Roanoke’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (SPHL) and the Salem Red Sox (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Roanoke include healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Carilion Clinic and Advance Auto Parts driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making it easy to navigate. The weather in Roanoke is generally mild, with four distinct seasons, making it a comfortable place to live year-round.
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.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Schools
The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Roanoke is a mid-sized city located in the state of Virginia. The city has a population of 102,987 people. Roanoke is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 45% married, this city falls well below the national average.
Without the right tools, moving to any new area can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Roanoke, Virginia could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. With useful information like cost of living, commute, education 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, VA receives 74 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #142 in Virginia and #4,391 in the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Roanoke has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (A+), education (A-) and housing (A). Regrettably for Roanoke, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: crime (F) and employment (D).
Parents and families tend to prioritize school test scores when choosing educational institutions. Test score data can be a critical factor in evaluating and comparing schools. In Roanoke, the average school test scores are an impressive 80%, well above the national average. This achievement reflects the educational system's dedication to providing students with the essential knowledge and tools for success. It ensures that your children will receive the support and resources needed to excel academically and thrive in their educational pursuits.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Roanoke excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Roanoke is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Roanoke come in at $237,135, which is 45.5% lower than the Virginia 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 3.5, which is 22.2% lower than the Virginia average.
| Statistic | Roanoke | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.0% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.2% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.2% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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