same $100k income, fresh start from Greensboro

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after greensboro

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

$58

pricier each month than Greensboro

Almost a wash on cost. The case for Roanoke is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

3% cheaper than Greensboro(vs $1,428/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Greensboro

vs 4.5% in Greensboro

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$58 less than Greensboro

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

04a house here

$296k

10% more expensive than Greensboro

vs $269k in Greensboro

05metro size

314k

vs 790k in Greensboro

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Greensboro edges ahead with 189 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: Greensboro packs 4.1× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

28% higher than Greensboro

vs 54/100 in Greensboro

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

·walk score®

94/100

7% higher than Greensboro

vs 88/100 in Greensboro

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

36% fewer than Greensboro

vs 14 nonstops in Greensboro

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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