on $100k a year, leaving Denver

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left denver

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

$368

lighter monthly cost than Denver

Roanoke gives you room Denver doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

26% cheaper than Denver(vs $1,863/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$113/mo more in state tax than Denver

vs 4.4% in Denver

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$368 more than Denver

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

04a house here

$296k

51% cheaper than Denver

vs $599k in Denver

05metro size

314k

vs 3.0M in Denver

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Denver only manages 174 of those.

Lighter on events: Denver packs 37.8× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

19% lower than Denver

vs 85/100 in Denver

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% lower than Denver

vs 97/100 in Denver

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

95% fewer than Denver

vs 169 nonstops in Denver

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