$100k salary, packing up from Nashville

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of nashville

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

$71

the monthly cost of moving past Nashville

Roanoke edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

23% cheaper than Nashville(vs $1,790/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Nashville

vs 0% in Nashville

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$71 less than Nashville

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

04a house here

$296k

36% cheaper than Nashville

vs $461k in Nashville

05metro size

314k

vs 2.1M in Nashville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Nashville only manages 173 of those.

Nashville hosts 23.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

23% higher than Nashville

vs 56/100 in Nashville

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

·walk score®

94/100

2% lower than Nashville

vs 96/100 in Nashville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

81% fewer than Nashville

vs 47 nonstops in Nashville

04 · see also

same energy as roanoke, different zip code:

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