on $100k a year, leaving Melbourne

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of melbourne

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

$34

lighter monthly cost than Melbourne

Roanoke and Melbourne land close on cost. The reasons to move are about how you'd live, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

27% cheaper than Melbourne(vs $1,895/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Melbourne

vs 0% in Melbourne

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$34 more than Melbourne

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

04a house here

$296k

16% cheaper than Melbourne

vs $351k in Melbourne

05metro size

314k

vs 644k in Melbourne

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Melbourne gets 254 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

·outdoorscore

69/100

25% higher than Melbourne

vs 55/100 in Melbourne

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

·walk score®

94/100

12% higher than Melbourne

vs 84/100 in Melbourne

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

350% more than Melbourne

vs 2 nonstops in Melbourne

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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