$100k a year, no longer in Sarasota

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of sarasota

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

$260

less monthly outlay than Sarasota

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 Sarasota(vs $2,121/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Sarasota

vs 0% in Sarasota

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$260 more than Sarasota

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

04a house here

$296k

30% cheaper than Sarasota

vs $423k in Sarasota

05metro size

314k

vs 262k in Sarasota

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Sarasota actually gets more: 249 pleasant days a year.

A month here packs 4.0× the events of Sarasota.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

17% higher than Sarasota

vs 59/100 in Sarasota

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

·walk score®

94/100

2% lower than Sarasota

vs 96/100 in Sarasota

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

50% more than Sarasota

vs 6 nonstops in Sarasota

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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