same $100k income, fresh start from Asheville

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left asheville

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

$252

under Asheville, every month

Roanoke is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

20% cheaper than Asheville(vs $1,738/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Asheville

vs 4.5% in Asheville

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$252 more than Asheville

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

04a house here

$296k

31% cheaper than Asheville

vs $430k in Asheville

05metro size

314k

vs 417k in Asheville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Asheville actually gets more: 201 pleasant days a year.

66% fewer events than Asheville. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% higher than Asheville

vs 66/100 in Asheville

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

·walk score®

94/100

49% higher than Asheville

vs 63/100 in Asheville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

13% more than Asheville

vs 8 nonstops in Asheville

04 · see also

same energy as roanoke, different zip code:

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