$100k salary, packing up from Augusta

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of augusta

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

$39

below Augusta's monthly cost

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

4% cheaper than Augusta(vs $1,443/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$22/mo more in state tax than Augusta

vs 5.49% in Augusta

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$39 more than Augusta

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

04a house here

$296k

20% more expensive than Augusta

vs $247k in Augusta

05metro size

314k

vs 628k in Augusta

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Augusta has the edge here, logging 191 pleasant days a year.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 4.0× more on the calendar than Augusta.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

50% higher than Augusta

vs 46/100 in Augusta

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

·walk score®

94/100

27% higher than Augusta

vs 74/100 in Augusta

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

200% more than Augusta

vs 3 nonstops in Augusta

04 · see also

cities that play in roanoke's register:

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