same $100k income, fresh start from Allentown

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after allentown

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

$203

lighter monthly cost than Allentown

Not a fortune, but real money. Roanoke runs cheaper than Allentown month over month.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

24% cheaper than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$223/mo more in state tax than Allentown

vs 3.07% in Allentown

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$203 more than Allentown

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

04a house here

$296k

18% cheaper than Allentown

vs $359k in Allentown

05metro size

314k

vs 874k in Allentown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Allentown barely cracks 157 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Allentown. About 56% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% lower than Allentown

vs 73/100 in Allentown

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

·walk score®

94/100

9% higher than Allentown

vs 86/100 in Allentown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

0% fewer than Allentown

vs 9 nonstops in Allentown

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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