$100k a year, no longer in Orlando

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left orlando

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

in our guides

#6

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best affordable cities to live car-free

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for families

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for families who love the outdoors

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to leave Nashville for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Nashville

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to leave DC for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$76

under Orlando, every month

A near-tie on cost. What separates Roanoke is the life around the numbers.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

29% cheaper than Orlando(vs $1,937/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Orlando

vs 0% in Orlando

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$76 more than Orlando

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

04a house here

$296k

26% cheaper than Orlando

vs $402k in Orlando

05metro size

314k

vs 2.8M in Orlando

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Orlando edges ahead with 216 pleasant days.

But the calendar thins out: Orlando stays 13.0× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

11% higher than Orlando

vs 62/100 in Orlando

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% lower than Orlando

vs 97/100 in Orlando

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

94% fewer than Orlando

vs 146 nonstops in Orlando

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