$100k a year, no longer in Duluth

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left duluth

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

$352

under Duluth, every month

Roanoke is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

11% cheaper than Duluth(vs $1,559/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$175/mo less in state tax than Duluth

vs 7.85% in Duluth

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$352 more than Duluth

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

04a house here

$296k

17% more expensive than Duluth

vs $252k in Duluth

05metro size

314k

vs 282k in Duluth

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Duluth barely cracks 132 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Duluth packs 2.5× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% lower than Duluth

vs 73/100 in Duluth

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

·walk score®

94/100

203% higher than Duluth

vs 31/100 in Duluth

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

125% more than Duluth

vs 4 nonstops in Duluth

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