on $100k a year, leaving Pensacola

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

from pensacola

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

$109

pricier each month than Pensacola

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

21% cheaper than Pensacola(vs $1,752/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Pensacola

vs 0% in Pensacola

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$109 less than Pensacola

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

04a house here

$296k

2% cheaper than Pensacola

vs $303k in Pensacola

05metro size

314k

vs 530k in Pensacola

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Pensacola has the edge here, logging 226 pleasant days a year.

Lighter on events: Pensacola packs 2.2× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

0% lower than Pensacola

vs 69/100 in Pensacola

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

·walk score®

94/100

47% higher than Pensacola

vs 64/100 in Pensacola

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

18% fewer than Pensacola

vs 11 nonstops in Pensacola

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