on $100k a year, leaving Memphis

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after memphis

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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$425

more each month than Memphis ran you

Roanoke costs more than Memphis, 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

4% cheaper than Memphis(vs $1,436/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Memphis

vs 0% in Memphis

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$425 less than Memphis

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

04a house here

$296k

22% more expensive than Memphis

vs $244k in Memphis

05metro size

314k

vs 1.3M in Memphis

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Memphis gets 185 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

67% fewer events than Memphis. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

23% higher than Memphis

vs 56/100 in Memphis

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

·walk score®

94/100

6% higher than Memphis

vs 89/100 in Memphis

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

72% fewer than Memphis

vs 32 nonstops in Memphis

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

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington