$100k a year, no longer in Spokane

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left spokane

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

$341

more each month than Spokane ran you

Roanoke costs more than Spokane, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

9% cheaper than Spokane(vs $1,520/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$479/mo more in state tax than Spokane

vs 0% in Spokane

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$341 less than Spokane

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

04a house here

$296k

30% cheaper than Spokane

vs $420k in Spokane

05metro size

314k

vs 600k in Spokane

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Spokane only logs 164 pleasant days.

Spokane hosts 3.1× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

15% lower than Spokane

vs 81/100 in Spokane

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

·walk score®

94/100

3% higher than Spokane

vs 91/100 in Spokane

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

10% fewer than Spokane

vs 10 nonstops in Spokane

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