$100k salary, packing up from Grand Rapids

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of grand rapids

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

$113

below Grand Rapids's monthly cost

On paper, Roanoke and Grand Rapids are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

15% cheaper than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$125/mo more in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$113 more than Grand Rapids

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

04a house here

$296k

16% cheaper than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

314k

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Grand Rapids keeps to 151 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Grand Rapids stays 5.8× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

23% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% lower than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

55% fewer than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

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