$100k salary, packing up from South Bend

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of south bend

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

$220

more each month than South Bend ran you

You'd pay for Roanoke. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

1% cheaper than South Bend(vs $1,391/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$229/mo more in state tax than South Bend

vs 3% in South Bend

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$220 less than South Bend

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

04a house here

$296k

29% more expensive than South Bend

vs $230k in South Bend

05metro size

314k

vs 324k in South Bend

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

South Bend only manages 157 of those.

A similar weekend lineup to South Bend.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

30% higher than South Bend

vs 53/100 in South Bend

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

·walk score®

94/100

15% higher than South Bend

vs 82/100 in South Bend

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

0% fewer than South Bend

vs 9 nonstops in South Bend

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as roanoke:

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