$100k salary, packing up from Salem

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left salem

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

$510

below Salem's monthly cost

The gap is real. Roanoke costs noticeably less than Salem, every month.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

16% cheaper than Salem(vs $1,642/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$250/mo less in state tax than Salem

vs 8.75% in Salem

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$510 more than Salem

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

04a house here

$296k

35% cheaper than Salem

vs $452k in Salem

05metro size

314k

vs 437k in Salem

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Salem edges ahead with 201 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 12.0× more on the calendar than Salem.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

0% lower than Salem

vs 69/100 in Salem

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

·walk score®

94/100

7% higher than Salem

vs 88/100 in Salem

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

0% fewer than Salem

vs 0 nonstops in Salem

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