same $100k income, fresh start from Dallas

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after dallas

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

$214

more expensive each month than Dallas

Roanoke costs more than Dallas, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

16% cheaper than Dallas(vs $1,647/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Dallas

vs 0% in Dallas

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$214 less than Dallas

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

04a house here

$296k

19% cheaper than Dallas

vs $367k in Dallas

05metro size

314k

vs 8.1M in Dallas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Dallas only logs 171 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: Dallas packs 36.7× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

21% higher than Dallas

vs 57/100 in Dallas

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

·walk score®

94/100

1% higher than Dallas

vs 93/100 in Dallas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

95% fewer than Dallas

vs 190 nonstops in Dallas

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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