on $100k a year, leaving Springfield

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left 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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$221

more each month than Springfield ran you

Roanoke runs a little pricier than Springfield. The case has to be about something other than rent.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

11% more expensive than Springfield(vs $1,249/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$88/mo more in state tax than Springfield

vs 4.7% in Springfield

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$221 less than Springfield

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

04a house here

$296k

10% more expensive than Springfield

vs $268k in Springfield

05metro size

314k

vs 491k in Springfield

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Springfield barely cracks 170 pleasant ones.

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

69/100

38% higher than Springfield

vs 50/100 in Springfield

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

·walk score®

94/100

6% higher than Springfield

vs 89/100 in Springfield

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

0% fewer than Springfield

vs 9 nonstops in Springfield

04 · see also

if roanoke appeals, also worth a look:

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