same $100k income, fresh start from Charlotte

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

from charlotte

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

$242

cheaper each month than Charlotte

You'd feel the difference in Roanoke. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Charlotte.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

20% cheaper than Charlotte(vs $1,728/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Charlotte

vs 4.5% in Charlotte

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$242 more than Charlotte

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

04a house here

$296k

24% cheaper than Charlotte

vs $391k in Charlotte

05metro size

314k

vs 2.8M in Charlotte

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Charlotte edges ahead with 200 pleasant days.

But the calendar thins out: Charlotte stays 9.4× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

35% higher than Charlotte

vs 51/100 in Charlotte

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

·walk score®

94/100

0% lower than Charlotte

vs 94/100 in Charlotte

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

94% fewer than Charlotte

vs 141 nonstops in Charlotte

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