$100k salary, packing up from Albany

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left albany

Roanoke

va · metro 314k

photo: Joseph Fuller / pexels

a dispatch from

roanoke

VA

37.27°N

79.94°W

Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.

metro314k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$269

below Albany's monthly cost

The gap is real. Roanoke costs noticeably less than Albany, every month.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

16% cheaper than Albany(vs $1,643/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$8/mo less in state tax than Albany

vs 5.85% in Albany

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$269 more than Albany

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$296k

18% cheaper than Albany

vs $361k in Albany

05metro size

314k

vs 905k in Albany

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Albany keeps to 147 pleasant days a year.

Albany hosts 2.2× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

4% lower than Albany

vs 72/100 in Albany

Closest outdoor draw: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 22.3 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

3% higher than Albany

vs 91/100 in Albany

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

53% fewer than Albany

vs 19 nonstops in Albany

04 · see also

if roanoke appeals, also worth a look:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

el paso

$388/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington