$100k a year, no longer in Buffalo

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after buffalo

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

$0

less monthly outlay than Buffalo

A near-tie on cost. What separates Roanoke is the life around the numbers.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

1% more expensive than Buffalo(vs $1,374/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$8/mo less in state tax than Buffalo

vs 5.85% in Buffalo

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$0 more than Buffalo

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

04a house here

$296k

6% more expensive than Buffalo

vs $280k in Buffalo

05metro size

314k

vs 1.2M in Buffalo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Buffalo keeps to 152 pleasant days a year.

82% fewer events than Buffalo. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% higher than Buffalo

vs 66/100 in Buffalo

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% higher than Buffalo

vs 91/100 in Buffalo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

55% fewer than Buffalo

vs 20 nonstops in Buffalo

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

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compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington