$100k a year, no longer in Bridgeport

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after bridgeport

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

$1,364

less monthly outlay than Bridgeport

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

50% cheaper than Bridgeport(vs $2,767/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$21/mo more in state tax than Bridgeport

vs 5.5% in Bridgeport

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$1,364 more than Bridgeport

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

04a house here

$296k

61% cheaper than Bridgeport

vs $768k in Bridgeport

05metro size

314k

vs 952k in Bridgeport

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Bridgeport barely cracks 172 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.7× Bridgeport's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

8% higher than Bridgeport

vs 64/100 in Bridgeport

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

·walk score®

94/100

2% higher than Bridgeport

vs 92/100 in Bridgeport

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

800% more than Bridgeport

vs 1 nonstops in Bridgeport

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as roanoke:

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