same $100k income, fresh start from Austin

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

from austin

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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$278

more each month than Austin ran you

You'd pay for Roanoke. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

13% cheaper than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Austin

vs 0% in Austin

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$278 less than Austin

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

04a house here

$296k

32% cheaper than Austin

vs $433k in Austin

05metro size

314k

vs 2.5M in Austin

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Austin keeps to 170 pleasant days a year.

90% fewer events than Austin. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

23% higher than Austin

vs 56/100 in Austin

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

·walk score®

94/100

5% lower than Austin

vs 99/100 in Austin

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

79% fewer than Austin

vs 42 nonstops in Austin

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