$100k a year, no longer in Durham

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left durham

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

$198

less monthly outlay than Durham

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Roanoke is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

18% cheaper than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Durham

vs 4.5% in Durham

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$198 more than Durham

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

04a house here

$296k

29% cheaper than Durham

vs $415k in Durham

05metro size

314k

vs 609k in Durham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Durham only manages 178 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Durham stays 2.9× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

38% higher than Durham

vs 50/100 in Durham

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

·walk score®

94/100

18% higher than Durham

vs 80/100 in Durham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

77% fewer than Durham

vs 39 nonstops in Durham

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