$100k salary, packing up from Springfield

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of springfield

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

$468

below Springfield's monthly cost

The gap is real. Roanoke costs noticeably less than Springfield, every month.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

28% cheaper than Springfield(vs $1,913/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$63/mo more in state tax than Springfield

vs 5% in Springfield

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$468 more than Springfield

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

04a house here

$296k

21% cheaper than Springfield

vs $373k in Springfield

05metro size

314k

vs 460k in Springfield

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Springfield only logs 147 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.0× more on the calendar than Springfield.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% higher than Springfield

vs 66/100 in Springfield

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

·walk score®

94/100

8% higher than Springfield

vs 87/100 in Springfield

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

65% fewer than Springfield

vs 26 nonstops in Springfield

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