same $100k income, fresh start from Lexington

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

from lexington

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

$2

cheaper each month than Lexington

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

7% cheaper than Lexington(vs $1,488/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Lexington

vs 4.5% in Lexington

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$2 more than Lexington

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

04a house here

$296k

9% cheaper than Lexington

vs $324k in Lexington

05metro size

314k

vs 520k in Lexington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Lexington keeps to 171 pleasant days a year.

Lexington hosts 3.5× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

15% higher than Lexington

vs 60/100 in Lexington

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

·walk score®

94/100

7% higher than Lexington

vs 88/100 in Lexington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

31% fewer than Lexington

vs 13 nonstops in Lexington

04 · see also

cities that play in roanoke's register:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

el paso

$388/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

huntsville

$71/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoHuntsville