$100k a year, no longer in San Jose

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after san jose

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

$2,384

cheaper each month than San Jose

In Roanoke, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

60% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$296/mo less in state tax than San Jose

vs 9.3% in San Jose

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$2,384 more than San Jose

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

04a house here

$296k

84% cheaper than San Jose

vs $1796k in San Jose

05metro size

314k

vs 1.9M in San Jose

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

San Jose actually gets more: 283 pleasant days a year.

San Jose hosts 5.2× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

1% lower than San Jose

vs 70/100 in San Jose

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

·walk score®

94/100

1% lower than San Jose

vs 95/100 in San Jose

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

69% fewer than San Jose

vs 29 nonstops in San Jose

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