$100k a year, no longer in Boston

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of boston

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

$1,700

less monthly outlay than Boston

In Roanoke, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

56% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$63/mo more in state tax than Boston

vs 5% in Boston

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$1,700 more than Boston

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

04a house here

$296k

62% cheaper than Boston

vs $771k in Boston

05metro size

314k

vs 4.9M in Boston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Boston barely cracks 160 pleasant ones.

Boston hosts 14.0× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

3% lower than Boston

vs 71/100 in Boston

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

·walk score®

94/100

4% lower than Boston

vs 98/100 in Boston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

91% fewer than Boston

vs 103 nonstops in Boston

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