on $100k a year, leaving Olympia

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left olympia

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

$130

below Olympia's monthly cost

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

31% cheaper than Olympia(vs $1,991/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Olympia

vs 0% in Olympia

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$130 more than Olympia

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

04a house here

$296k

44% cheaper than Olympia

vs $533k in Olympia

05metro size

314k

vs 299k in Olympia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Olympia gets 182 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

·outdoorscore

69/100

14% lower than Olympia

vs 80/100 in Olympia

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

·walk score®

94/100

7% higher than Olympia

vs 88/100 in Olympia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

90% fewer than Olympia

vs 90 nonstops in Olympia

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