$100k a year, no longer in Boulder

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of boulder

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

$721

under Boulder, 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

38% cheaper than Boulder(vs $2,216/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$113/mo more in state tax than Boulder

vs 4.4% in Boulder

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$721 more than Boulder

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

04a house here

$296k

62% cheaper than Boulder

vs $783k in Boulder

05metro size

314k

vs 327k in Boulder

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Boulder only logs 178 pleasant days.

A real upgrade on things to do: 2.0× Boulder's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

13% lower than Boulder

vs 79/100 in Boulder

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

·walk score®

94/100

12% higher than Boulder

vs 84/100 in Boulder

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

95% fewer than Boulder

vs 169 nonstops in Boulder

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