$100k salary, packing up from Raleigh

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after raleigh

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

$177

less monthly outlay than Raleigh

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Roanoke is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

17% cheaper than Raleigh(vs $1,663/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Raleigh

vs 4.5% in Raleigh

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$177 more than Raleigh

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

04a house here

$296k

33% cheaper than Raleigh

vs $440k in Raleigh

05metro size

314k

vs 1.5M in Raleigh

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Raleigh gets 201 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

74% fewer events than Raleigh. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

19% higher than Raleigh

vs 58/100 in Raleigh

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% lower than Raleigh

vs 97/100 in Raleigh

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

77% fewer than Raleigh

vs 39 nonstops in Raleigh

04 · see also

if roanoke appeals, also worth a look:

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