$100k a year, no longer in El Paso

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of el paso

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

$388

more expensive each month than El Paso

Roanoke costs more than El Paso, 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

6% cheaper than El Paso(vs $1,473/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than El Paso

vs 0% in El Paso

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$388 less than El Paso

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

04a house here

$296k

28% more expensive than El Paso

vs $231k in El Paso

05metro size

314k

vs 872k in El Paso

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

El Paso gets 222 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

Noticeably quieter than El Paso. About 60% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

6% higher than El Paso

vs 65/100 in El Paso

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

·walk score®

94/100

1% higher than El Paso

vs 93/100 in El Paso

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

31% fewer than El Paso

vs 13 nonstops in El Paso

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

see also

huntsville

$71/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaLexingtonHuntsville