same $100k income, fresh start from Albuquerque

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left albuquerque

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

$119

cheaper each month than Albuquerque

On paper, Roanoke and Albuquerque are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

7% cheaper than Albuquerque(vs $1,489/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$12/mo less in state tax than Albuquerque

vs 5.9% in Albuquerque

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$119 more than Albuquerque

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

04a house here

$296k

16% cheaper than Albuquerque

vs $351k in Albuquerque

05metro size

314k

vs 924k in Albuquerque

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Albuquerque edges ahead with 205 pleasant days.

71% fewer events than Albuquerque. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

15% lower than Albuquerque

vs 81/100 in Albuquerque

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

·walk score®

94/100

0% lower than Albuquerque

vs 94/100 in Albuquerque

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

61% fewer than Albuquerque

vs 23 nonstops in Albuquerque

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