$100k a year, no longer in Providence

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of providence

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

$765

cheaper each month than Providence

Roanoke is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

35% cheaper than Providence(vs $2,127/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$20/mo less in state tax than Providence

vs 5.99% in Providence

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$765 more than Providence

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

04a house here

$296k

44% cheaper than Providence

vs $528k in Providence

05metro size

314k

vs 1.7M in Providence

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Providence only manages 159 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Providence stays 1.8× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

10% higher than Providence

vs 63/100 in Providence

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

·walk score®

94/100

2% lower than Providence

vs 96/100 in Providence

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

47% fewer than Providence

vs 17 nonstops in Providence

04 · see also

cities that play in roanoke's register:

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