on $100k a year, leaving Salt Lake City

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left salt lake city

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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$134

under Salt Lake City, every month

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

14% cheaper than Salt Lake City(vs $1,608/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$92/mo more in state tax than Salt Lake City

vs 4.65% in Salt Lake City

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$134 more than Salt Lake City

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

04a house here

$296k

49% cheaper than Salt Lake City

vs $584k in Salt Lake City

05metro size

314k

vs 1.3M in Salt Lake City

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Salt Lake City only logs 168 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Salt Lake City. About 81% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

12% lower than Salt Lake City

vs 78/100 in Salt Lake City

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

·walk score®

94/100

18% higher than Salt Lake City

vs 80/100 in Salt Lake City

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

90% fewer than Salt Lake City

vs 90 nonstops in Salt Lake City

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